Does Trait Anxiety Mediate the Relationship Between Family Patterns and Quality of Life?

Abstract

The study examined whether trait anxiety mediated the relationships between family patterns (differentiation of self) and quality of life. 620 Israeli students, filled out differentiation of self (DoS), trait anxiety, and quality of life questionnaires. Trait anxiety mediated the relationships between DoS and quality of life dimensions. Findings extend our understanding of the role of differentiation of self for improving quality of life when dealing with the challenges of patients suffering from high levels of anxiety. It is strongly recommended that family therapists who wish to help reduce trait anxiety and enhance quality of life should relate to specific family and parenting patterns.

Keywords:

• Trait anxiety
• differentiation of self
• emotional reactivity
• I-position
• emotional cutoff
• fusion with others
• quality of life

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Helene Hogri for her valuable professional assistance in editing this paper and Edna Gutman for the statistical help. Many thanks to graduate students Tali Keidar, Ruwaa Abbas, Walaa Ailey, Asmhan Khalifa, Maisam Mhamed, Yaarit Solomon, and Sheli Unterman, who helped collect the data.

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interests.