Relational Ethics and Differentiation of Self
An Empirical Study of the Key Constructs of Contextual Theory and Bowen Family Systems Theory
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21319835 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Mercè Rived‐Ocaña (0000-0002-3361-918X, Escola d'Infermeria i Teràpia Ocupacional de Terrassa (EUIT) Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona Barcelon Spain, corresponding author), María Calatrava (0000-0002-2394-910X, Instituto Cultura y Sociedad (ICS) Universidad de Navarra Navarra Spain), Martiño Rodríguez‐González (0000-0002-7117-0045, Instituto Cultura y Sociedad (ICS) Universidad de Navarra Navarra Spain) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 64 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | e70005-e70005 |
| Publication date | 2025-03-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Family Process (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0014-7370 • E-ISSN: 1545-5300 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/famp.70005 |
| PMID | 40064610 |
| OpenAlex | W4408319227 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
| References cited | 54 |
Contextual therapy, concerned with equity of responsibility and relational balances, seeks to reintroduce the truth of personal uniqueness and genuine dialogue in meaningful relationships by establishing a bridge between individual therapy and family therapy. Bowen family systems theory, on the other hand, is an approach that considers differentiation as a concept involving the degree to which a person becomes individuated from the parents. This process emerges from relational‐family experiences, in accordance with the regulation of the emotions experienced and the balance achieved between the forces of autonomy and togetherness. We analyzed the connection between relational ethics and differentiation of self, as well as comparing these variables in a non‐clinical sample ( N = 1230) and a clinical one ( N = 241) to whom we administered the Spanish Relational Ethics Scale and the Differentiation of Self Inventory. The empirical results suggest that relational ethics and differentiation of self are highly interconnected and linked to health and to the achievement of mature individuation, contributing to our empirical knowledge of the two constructs. Our findings suggest that these two frameworks and their respective constructs may be viewed as mutually supportive, offering a potential opportunity to thoughtfully integrate them into clinical practice where appropriate
Autonomy · Empirical research · Epistemology · Equity (law) · Family therapy · Individuation · Political science · Psychotherapist · Relational theory · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Counseling, Therapy, and Family Dynamics · Law · Psychology · Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications · Social Psychology
The Differentiation of Self Inventory
Assessing Interpersonal Fusion
The Healing Power of Giving
An Introduction to Marriage and Family Therapy
Martin Buber's Philosophy of Dialogue and Implications for Qualitative Family Research
Differentiation of Self and Attachment in Adulthood
Spanish Adaptation of the Relational Ethics Scale
Deconstructing Differentiation
A Test of Contextual Theory
Differentiation of Self and Separation Anxiety
Adolescent Mothers in Foster Care
Bowen Theory
Balancing the ledger
Emotional Reactivity and Psychological Distress
A power primer
Patterns of assistance between adult children and their older parents
Ties that Bind
| Unique citing works | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2 |
| Citation span | 2025 - 2025 (1) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 2 |