Structural Relationships between Self - Differentiation and Subjective Wellbeing, Mental Health and Marital Quality "Fitting Bowen's Theory

Objective: M any theorists have attempted to illustrate family functions. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between self-differentiation, mental well-being and welfare and the quality of an individual’s married life, specifically in the framework of Bowen's theory.

Methods:The sample size for this descriptive research project consisted of 560 participants who were chosen at random from the clients referred to a number of counseling centers in the city of Isfahan, located in central Iran. Assessment tools utilized in this project consisted of Differentiation of Self Inventory-2 (DSI-2), General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) and Positive and Negative Affects Scales (PANAS) as well as Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS).

Results: Measurements were carried out to ensure the validity of this research: First, the validity of each subject questionnaire was examined by the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Then, the structural model for the conceptualization of the relationship between differentiation of self and other factors along with the quality of an individual’s married life was presented and accordingly adjusted by reviewing preceding studies in the framework of Bowen's theory.

Conclusion: It was concluded that the questionnaires were indeed valid to be used in both research and clinical settings.