Separation-individuation of Portuguese emerging adults in relation to parents and to the romantic partner

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2012

Authors

Luísa Marinho Saraiva (Author) Other; Paula Mena Matos (Author) FPCEUP

Journal

Title: Journal of Youth Studies

Vol. 15 No. 4

Pages: 499-517

ISSN: 1367-6261

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 0 Citations

PsycInfo

Scientific classification

FOS: Social sciences > Other social sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-002-GD3

DOI: 10.1080/13676261.2012.663889

Abstract (EN): Separation-individuation is one of the main developmental tasks for emerging adults in the transition to adulthood and can be defined as the ability to gain autonomy within relatedness in attachment relationships. The aim of this study is to explore the current relationship dynamics of parent-child separation-individuation and to examine the links between this developmental task of emerging adults and the ability to establish an autonomous and differentiated self in an intimate relationship with a romantic partner. Separation-individuation was measured with the Munich Individuation Test of Adolescence (MITA), a self-report instrument that allows the assessment of individuation dimensions towards mother, father, and romantic partner. Participants were 463 Portuguese emerging adults between 18 and 30 years of age, mostly university students. Results point to the existence of different individuation styles that reflect distinct relationships dynamics, as well as gender, age and parental figure differences in the development of an autonomous sense of self within close relationships. In addition, results showed an articulation between individuation dynamics concerning parents and the romantic partner that is associated with participants' individuation style and relationship length, thus supporting the main hypothesis.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: <a href="http://gateway.isiknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcAuth=Alerting&SrcApp=Alerting&DestApp=WOS&DestLinkType=FullRecord&KeyUT= 000304266700006">Acesso à Web of Science</a> <br> <a href="http://www.scopus.com/record/display.url?eid=2-s2.0-84861633919&origin=resultslist">Acesso à Scopus</a>

No. of pages: 19