Predicting individual differences in autonomy-connectedness: the role of body awareness, alexithymia, and assertiveness

Journal of Clinical Psychology
Marrie H J BekkerJennifer B G Vermee

Abstract

Autonomy-connectedness is the capacity for being on one's own as well as for satisfactorily engaging in interpersonal relationships. Associations have been shown between autonomy-connectedness components (self-awareness, sensitivity to others, and the capacity for managing new situations) and various indices of psychopathology. Both in a theoretical sense as well as for enhancing treatment and prevention, it is relevant to identify which factors most powerfully predict individual differences in autonomy-connectedness: body awareness, alexithymia, or assertiveness. The present study examined this question in a clinical sample of women who were diagnosed as having autonomy problems (N=52) and in a female nonclinical community sample (N=59). In line with expectations, assertiveness was a strong predictor of (all three components of) autonomy-connectedness, as was emotionalizing, one of the alexithymia-components, but the latter in an opposite direction than we had expected: the higher an individual's ability to emotionalize was, the less self-aware and capable to manage new situations that person was, and the more sensitive to others. Cognitive alexithymia contributed to self-awareness as well as to the capacity for managing new s...Continue Reading

References

May 1, 1991·Journal of Gerontology·S HansellD Mechanic
Nov 1, 1989·Psychological Bulletin·C Gatsonis, A R Sampson
Jan 1, 1988·Behaviour Research and Therapy·W A ArrindellP P Mersch
Jan 1, 1985·Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics·G J TaylorR M Bagby
Mar 1, 1982·Psychophysiology·J W PennebakerJ A Skelton
Aug 24, 1999·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·I FukunishiR H Rahe
Apr 6, 2000·Journal of Psychosomatic Research·K HonkalampiH Viinamäki
May 9, 2000·The International Journal of Eating Disorders·J GellerG L Flett
Mar 7, 2001·The American Journal of Psychiatry·C BlancoE Caligor
May 31, 2001·The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease·A TroisiP Petti
Aug 2, 2001·Journal of Personality·L G Lundh, M Simonsson-Sarnecki
Jun 7, 2002·Journal of Personality·Beverly A Hmel, Aaron L Pincus
Sep 6, 2002·Psychophysiology·James J Gross
Jul 7, 2005·Psychological Methods·Kristopher J PreacherW Alan Nicewander
Jan 27, 2006·Journal of Personality Assessment·Marrie H J Bekker, Marcel A L M van Assen
May 12, 2006·Depression and Anxiety·Marrie H J Bekker, Ursula Belt
Mar 6, 2007·Eating Behaviors·Tatjana van Strien, Machteld A Ouwens
Apr 26, 2007·Journal of Clinical Psychology·Marrie H J BekkerMarcel A Croon

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

May 15, 2009·PloS One·Wolf E MehlingAnita Stewart
Jan 1, 2012·Socioaffective Neuroscience & Psychology·C Fantini-HauwelT Arciszewski
Jun 5, 2013·Psychotherapy Research : Journal of the Society for Psychotherapy Research·Anthony S JoyceJohn S Ogrodniczuk
May 2, 2013·Journal of Behavioral Medicine·Karni GinzburgRuth Defrin
Jan 27, 2016·Attachment & Human Development·Greet S KuipersMarrie H J Bekker
Oct 28, 2016·Psychology and Psychotherapy·Elisabeth A P RuttenMarrie H J Bekker
Aug 5, 2017·PloS One·Marrie H J Bekker, Marcel A L M van Assen
Feb 20, 2019·Anxiety, Stress, and Coping·L E KunstM H J Bekker

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.