The moderating effect of differentiation: Education and health in married couples

Keywords

Bowen family systems theory, differentiation, dyadic data analysis, education and health, stress

Abstract

This study had four hypotheses based on Bowen Family Systems Theory. First, to determine the similarity in couple members' levels of differentiation, a latent profile analysis was performed. About 67% of couples reported less than a point difference on average between their scores on the differentiation subscales used. Second, whether differentiation was associated with physical health was determined by comparing the means of health indicators for couple members across the latent profile classes, and it was found that health and differentiation were related as expected. Finally, to determine whether differentiation moderated the associations between education, stress, and health, a group comparison procedure was performed for an Actor–Partner Interdependence Model. Evidence suggested that differentiation moderated some of these associations.

Original Publication Citation

Bartle-Haring, S., *Ferriby, M. M., & Bean, R. A. (2019). The moderating effect of differentiation: Education and health in married couples. Personal Relationships.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2019-05-30

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7801

Publisher

Personal Relationships

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Associate Professor

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