The mediating role of self differentiation in the relationship between gender role stress and psychological well-being in young adult women

This study was conducted to measure the relationship between gender role stress and psychological well-being levels of young adult women and to observe whether self-differentiation plays a mediating role in this relationship. We also tested whether level of traditional attitudes moderated the relationship between gender role stress and psychological well-being. A total of 430 young adult women aged between 18 and 35 (M = 24.64, SD = 3.73) participated in the study. Data were collected using the Demographic Information Form, Female Gender Role Stress Scale, Differentiation of Self Inventory - Short Form, Psychological Well-Being Scale and the traditionalism subscale of the Schwartz Values List. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS 26 software. Hayes PROCESS Macro Model 4 was used to measure the mediating effect and Model 1 was used to measure the moderating effect. In addition, Pearson Correlation Analysis was preferred for the measurement of relational analyses. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was used to measure whether the variables of the study differed significantly according to demographic data. Findings revealed that self-differentiation had a significant mediating effect in the relationship between psychological well-being and female gender role stress. However, no moderating effect of traditionalism was found. The findings were discussed in the light of feminist perspective and Bowen's Family Systems Theory (1972). Recommendations are presented in the clinical context, how the findings can be integrated into the feminist therapy framework and the possible outcomes of the process in practice are discussed.