The mediating role of object relations in the relationship between retrospective family unpredictability and self-silencing behavior in close relationships

This study aims to examine the mediating role of object relations in the relationship between retrospective family unpredictability and self-silencing behavior in close relationships. In the study, quantitative research method was used and the mediating role of object relations in the relationship between "retrospective family unpredictability" and "self-silencing behavior" was examined through "relational screening model". The population of the study consisted of individuals over the age of 18 living in Turkey and the sample consisted of 398 participants who gave consent to the "informed consent form". The "Demographic Information Form", "Retrospective Family Unpredictability Scale", "Self-Silencing Scale" and "Bell Object Relationships and Reality Rating Scale (BORRTI)" prepared by the researcher were used as tools by bringing them into an online survey form with the Google Form program. SPSS-23 program was used for the analysis of the research data. It was found that object relations had a mediating role in the relationship between retrospective family unpredictability and self-silencing behavior in close relationships; while the independent variable of retrospective family unpredictability predicted the dependent variable of self-silencing with positive significance, the mediating variable of object relations eliminated this significance and assumed a full mediating role. Demographic variables were found to have statistically significant relationships with family unpredictability, self-silencing behavior and object relations.