Journal of Woman and Family Studies

Investigating the mediating role of Self-Differentiation in the relationship between Self-Esteem and Body Image in women

Document Type : Research/Original/Regular

Authors

1 M.Sc. in Family Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Islamic Azad University

2 Associate Professor, Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Humanities, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran

3 M.Sc. in Family Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. (Corresponding Author)

Abstract

Abstract:
Purpose: the purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of Self-Differentiation between the Self-Esteem and Body image. Methods: this is a descriptive correlational study. The statistical population of the present study includes all Married Women living in Tehran in 2020. That 211 of them were selected by available sampling method and they completed the Body Image Scale, Self-Esteem Scale and Self-Differentiation Questionnaire. the data were analyzed by Pearson Correlation and Path Analysis. Results: the results showed that there is a significant relationship between Body Image, Self-Differentiation and Self-Esteem (p<0.05), and Self-Differentiation in the relationship between Self-Esteem and Body Image, play a mediating role. Conclusion: it can be concluded that Self-Differentiation as a mediator can modify the relationship between Self-Esteem and Body Image. Therefore, the emphasis on Self-Differentiation training can be considered in order to reduce the effects of negative Body Image. The results are discussed. v

Highlights

  1. A) The correlation matrix

Based on the results of the correlation matrix, the results showed that the relationship between self-esteem and body image is positive (r = .468, p = .05). The relationships of self-differentiation subscales with body image are also significant. The relationship between body image and emotional reactivity, I- position, emotional cutoff, and fusion was -.144, .323, -.331, and -.135, respectively (p = .05).

  1. B) The mediating effect of self-differentiation in the relationship between self-esteem and body image

Table (2). Standardized and unstandardized regression coefficients and t values of predictor variables in predicting the criterion variable.

The results of the above table can be examined in two parts as follows:

  1. A) According to the results of table 2, the t value for all self-esteem pathways is greater than its critical value (at the significance level of 0/01), so the null hypothesis is rejected, and it can be concluded with 99% confidence that the self-esteem is effective in predicting the components of self-differentiation and body image.
  2. B) According to the results of table (2), the t value for all components of self-differentiation except the fusion component is greater than its critical value (at the significance level of 0/01), so the null hypothesis is rejected, and it can be concluded with 99% confidence that all components of self-differentiation, except for fusion component are effective in predicting body image.

 

Table1. Standard and non-standard regression coefficients

Sections

 

Criterion

Predictor

Standard coefficient

Non-standard coefficient

Error

T-statistic

Significance level

Path

1

 

emotional reactivity

self-esteem

-.25

-.48

.13

-3.78

***

A1

 

i-position

self-esteem

.32

.58

.12

4.88

***

A2

 

emotional cutoff

self-esteem

-.30

-.48

.11

-4.52

***

A3

 

fusion

self-esteem

-.5

-.24

.11

-2.25

.025

A4

 

body image

self-esteem

.33

.40

.08

5.18

***

C

2

 

body image

emotional reactivity

-.17

-.11

.04

-2/94

.003

B1

 

body image

i-position

.26

.17

.04

4.37

***

B2

 

body image

emotional cutoff

-.27

-.20

.04

-4.66

***

B3

 

body image

fusion

-.05

-.04

.04

-.82

.411

B4

The results showed that the mediating role of self-differentiation in the relationship between self-esteem and body image was significant, which is consistent with research conducted by Lee (2011), Kim and Jeon (2013), and Sohrabi et al. (2013). Although body image directly changes self-esteem, this relationship can be moderated by the degree of self-differentiation. This means that increasing the degree of differentiation in individuals reduces the effect of negative body image on self-esteem. Because of their ability to deal with things rationally, differentiated individuals can respond rationally and maturely to stressful situations and avoid emotional withdrawal. Differentiated people have a realistic image of themselves and their partner and take steps to make their marital relationship important. In fact, increasing the degree of differentiation neutralizes the effect of negative body image and, consequently, reduces vulnerability to low self-esteem. Under normal circumstances, people with negative body images cannot deal with these issues, and researchers believe that by planning for differentiation training, a practical step can be taken to increase self-esteem in people with negative body images.

Keywords

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Journal of Woman and Family Studies
Volume 10, Issue 2 - Serial Number 25
July 2022
Pages 133-156