The relationship between family of origin relations and dyadic adjustment: The mediating role of differentiation of self and object relations

This study examined the relationships between family-of-origin relationships, dyadic adjustment, differentiation of self, and object relations among married individuals, and evaluated the mediating roles of differentiation of self and object relations in the relationship between family-of-origin relationships and marital adjustment. A total of 619 married individuals participated in the study, consisting of 479 women (77.4%) and 140 men (22.6%). The ages of the participants ranged from 20 to 66 years (M = 30.22, SD = 2.50). The data collection tools used in the study were the Family-of-Origin Relationships Inventory, Dyadic Adjustment Scale, Differentiation of Self Scale, and Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the data obtained in the study. Additionally, bootstrapped confidence intervals were calculated to determine the significance of the mediating effects. According to the results of the correlation analysis, there is a significant positive relationship between family-of-origin differentiation and marital adjustment, as well as self-differentiation, and a significant negative relationship with object relations. In other words, as the quality of family-of-origin relationships increase, the levels of dyadic adjustment and self-differentiation increase while object relations decrease. Additionally, diyadic adjustment was found to have a significant positive relationship with self-differentiation and a significant negative relationship with object relations. According to the results of the structural equation analysis, it was found that the mediating role of self-differentiation and object relations in the relationship between family of origin relationships and dyadic adjustment was significant. It was revealed that self-differentiation fully mediated this relationship, while object relations partially mediated it. The findings were discussed and evaluated in the context of theoretical literature and related research results, and some recommendations were made to researchers, families, educators, and policymakers.