Master of Science, The Ohio State University, 2024, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

Previous studies on parent to child anxiety have not examined the role of the mother and father's differentiation levels on the child's anxiety. While there have been mixed findings, some studies have found an association between parent and child anxiety. Using anxiety and differentiation data from the Flourishing Families Project (FFP) Waves I and III, this study examined differentiation's role to the association of anxiety from parent to child. The FFP data was gathered in a longitudinal study comprised of 500 total families, with this article looking at the 337 two-parent families. ANOVA and group comparison tests amongst 4 classes, all with varying levels of parental differentiation. Class 1 (both parents had high differentiation) and 3 (father low, mother high) had the lowest child anxiety. The repeated measures test was done to find whether anxiety levels varied by the differentiation profile and to determine whether the associations between child anxiety and parent anxiety varied among the profiles. Lower levels of differentiation were associated with higher levels of anxiety in both parents. Child anxiety was highest in the class 4, where both parents had low differentiation. Engaging parents in treatment for their differentiation levels could be beneficial for treating the anxiety of their children.

Committee: Ashley Landers (Committee Chair); Suzanne Bartle-Haring (Advisor) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Clinical Psychology; Families and Family Life; Psychology; Therapy

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2020, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

The present study investigated three major family process constructs—family differentiation, parental attachment, and authoritative parenting—to compare their unique or shared effects on identity development for emerging adults. Despite empirical support for their various impacts on developmental and health outcomes, these family processes have rarely, if ever, been investigated simultaneously. The present study builds on the foundation laid by previous works suggesting significant conceptual overlaps between theoretical constructs across often isolated bodies of literature in family science. Data was collected from a sample of 239 emerging adults who completed an online survey that included measures of differentiation, attachment, and authoritativeness, with separate scales for parental of figures. Identity integration and demographic variables were also measured. The full-scale measures of the three family process variables correlated strongly with coefficients of .76, .82, and .87, suggesting a high likelihood of a common variable being measured. SEM data analyses supported that the three family process variables fit best when modeled onto a single latent factor. Consistent patterns across comparative analyses of variance reflected a shared bi-dimensionality of the variables measured. When examined as continuous variables or along bidimensional classifications, the compelling family processes of high family differentiation, secure attachment, and authoritative parenting are conceptualizations of a practically identical set interactional patterns. Family processes across literatures should be further explored together to better understand the unique insights and the shared, corroborative findings between them.

Committee: Stephen Gavazzi PhD. (Advisor); Kelly Purtell PhD. (Committee Co-Chair); Suzanne Bartle-Haring PhD. (Committee Member); Lower-Hoppe Leeann PhD. (Other) Subjects: Behavioral Sciences; Cognitive Psychology; Counseling Education; Counseling Psychology; Families and Family Life; Mental Health; Personal Relationships; Psychology

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2017, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

The sibling bond is likely the longest, most resilient relationship in one's life. Subsequently, the sibling relationship is a strong predictor of outcomes across the lifespan, including positive intimate relationships, feelings of self-worth, and social skills. The purpose of this dissertation was to use Bowen Family Systems Theory (BFST) to examine individual's perception of their sibling relationships and the connection with interpersonal and intrapersonal factors, and to explore the congruence of sibling and romantic relationship distance regulation. Online research listservs were used to recruit participants (N=476). A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used to explore quantitative survey items. The Lifespan Sibling Relationship Scale (LSRS) was used to assess the sibling relationship in childhood and adulthood. The Social Connectedness Scale-Revised (SCSR) and the Separation-Individuation Test of Adolescence (SITA) were used to measure distance regulation. Interpersonal and intrapersonal factors included depression, general perceptions of health, and couple relationship satisfaction. BFST was used to explore four hypotheses: 1) The “closest” siblings will be same-sex dyads, with sisters being the closest among all the dyads; 2) Siblings that are <= 2.5 years of age will have a closer relationships than those > 2.5 years apart in age; 3) Individuals' perceptions of the sibling relationship in childhood and adulthood are related; and 4) The sibling relationship in childhood and adulthood are predictive of inter/intrapersonal factors. In addition, three research questions were explored: 1) Are there common characteristics of the selected “influential sibling” for participants with more than one sibling?; 2) What is the relationship between sibling and couple distance regulation?; and 3) To what extent does sibling and couple distance regulation mediate the influence of the sibling relationship on inter/intrapersonal factors? Correlations co (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Keeley Pratt Ph.D. (Advisor); Suzanne Bartle-Haring Ph.D. (Committee Member); Kelly Purtell Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Families and Family Life; Individual and Family Studies; Mental Health; Personal Relationships; Therapy

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2005, Human Development and Family Science

The price of depression to our society is staggering. When attributable morbidity costs (such as workplace related costs) and mortality are accounted for, it is estimated that depression costs our society $83.1 billion annually (Greenberg et al., 2003). While the monetary cost of depression is staggering, the relational costs of depression may be even more devastating to families and society. Marital relationships appear to be related to both the causes and the treatment of depression. The findings of the causal direction in the relationship between marital satisfaction and depression/depressive symptoms are mixed, however. Some (Whisman, 2001) have stated that a third variable may contribute to the observed relationship between depression/depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction. This research uses Bowen Family Systems Theory, specifically the theoretical construct of differentiation of self, to better understand the relationship between depressive symptoms and marital satisfaction across three sessions of conjoint therapy. Participants in the study were recruited through the on campus Marriage and Family Therapy Clinic at The Ohio State University. Participants completed self-report measures regarding differentiation of self, relationship satisfaction and depressive symptoms at intake. At two follow ups, following the second and third therapy sessions, participants completed self-report measures of relationship satisfaction and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) was used to analyze data. HLM is a multilevel modeling approach which allows researchers to use couple level variables without losing individual differences. This research both confirms and extends past research comparing depressive symptoms and relationship satisfaction. First, depressive symptoms and relationship satisfaction were significantly correlated over time. Second, aspects of differentiation were found to be associated with couple relationship satisfaction and depressive (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Suzanne Bartle-Haring (Advisor) Subjects: Psychology, Clinical

Doctor of Philosophy, University of Akron, 2017, Marriage and Family Counseling/Therapy

The community college (CCcc) setting has become increasingly important in education; yet, graduation rates are low (20%) compared 4-year colleges (69%). Researchers have focused on factors that predict college students' retention and graduation. Measures of students' academic, social, and personal-emotional adjustment to colleges have been found to better predictors of college success than entrance characteristics (Crede & Niehorster, 2012). This study builds on previous research by Skowron and Dendy (2004) that focused on relations between Bowen's concept of differentiation-of-self, and effortful control, in a sample of adults; and by Skowron, Wester, and Azen (2004) that investigated relations between stress, differentiation-of-self, and personal adjustment to college. This study tested whether differentiation-of-self added incremental variance above the variance explained by effortful control to the prediction of students' academic, social, and personal-emotional adjustment to CC in a sample of 119 non-traditional students at a CC in the Midwest section of the United States. The sample was 17.6% male, 79% female, and ages ranged from 18 to 63 years. Most participants were White (75.6%), with 15.1% identifying as Black or African American. Participants completed the Differentiation-of-Self-Short Form (DIS-SF; Drake, 2011), the Effortful Control Scale (ATQ-S-EC; Rothbart, Evans, & Ahadi, 2000), and the Student Adjustment to College Questionnaire (SACQ; Baker & Siryk, 1989). Participants' ATQ-S-EC scores significantly predicted SACQ social adjustment. Students' DSI-SF (IP) scores significantly predicted SACQ personal-emotional adjustment scores. Suggestions for future research are given and implications for interventions by Marriage and Family Therapists (MFT's) are also provided.

Committee: Linda Perosa PhD (Committee Chair); Rikki Patton PhD (Committee Member); Ingrid Weigold PhD (Committee Member); Heather Katafiasz PhD (Committee Member); Rene Mudrey-Camino PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Academic Guidance Counseling; Adult Education; Community College Education; Community Colleges; Counseling Education; Developmental Psychology; Education; Educational Psychology; Families and Family Life; Mental Health; Psychology; Therapy

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2013, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between differentiation and alcohol use and how these factors interact to influence relationship satisfaction in couples. Bowen Family Systems Theory suggests that alcohol and other substances are used as a distance regulator in relationships, but this idea has not been tested in a clinical sample. Using structural equation modeling with AMOS20, I tested 3 hypotheses. The first hypothesis was that couples with higher differentiation are less likely to use alcohol because they do not need it to regulate distance. I also hypothesized that couples who used more alcohol had lower relationship satisfaction. Finally, I hypothesized that alcohol acts as a mediator between differentiation and relationship satisfaction. The models produced a poor fit to the data, suggesting nonlinearity in the data. Therefore, repeated measures ANOVA was conducted and showed significant results, suggesting that alcohol served as a successful distance regulator. Results support previous findings that alcohol recovery can have a destabilizing effect on the family system because of the important function of alcohol use in intimate relationships. This study has important clinical implications because it provides a picture of the mechanism that underlies alcohol use in intimate relationships, which is a good starting point for planning and considering the effect of therapeutic interventions.

Committee: Suzanne Bartle-Haring PhD (Advisor); Anastasia Snyder PhD (Committee Member); Keeley Pratt PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Families and Family Life; Psychotherapy

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2013, Human Ecology: Human Development and Family Science

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between distance regulation, sex roles, sexism, and well-being in late adolescents and their parents in order to validate a feminist conceptualization of Bowen family systems theory, in which effective distance regulation is related to a balance in male and female-typed traits, or androgyny. This study aimed to evaluate three hypotheses: 1) distance regulation will be predictive of sex-typed traits; individuals who demonstrate balance of separateness and connectedness will show high levels of both male-typed and female-typed traits; sexism may mediate this relationship, 2) parent distance regulation and androgyny will be predictive of these traits in their children, based on the concept of intergenerational transmission, 3) both distance regulation and androgyny are adaptive and will predict overall well-being. To test these hypotheses, a random sample of college students (n = 150) and their parents (n = 36) were asked to complete a survey that included the Family Distance Regulation Scale (FDR), Personal Attributes Questionnaire (PAQ), the Ambivalent Sexism Inventory (ASI), and the Affect Balance Scale (ABS). The three hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling. Results did not support hypotheses 1 and 2 and it was suggested that this is due to measurement issues, sample size, and the life cycle stage of college students and their parents. Hypothesis 3 was partially supported, in that androgyny was related to well-being. However, female participants appeared less well than male participants and this issue is discussed in light of a feminist framework and measurement issues. Recommendations for future studies include a larger parent sample, a parent-child sample from more stable life cycle stages, and a social constructionist approach to measurement.

Committee: Suzanne Bartle-Haring PhD (Advisor); Susan Saltzburg PhD (Committee Member); Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Families and Family Life; Gender Studies; Individual and Family Studies; Therapy; Womens Studies