The Relationship between Alexithymia and Self-Differentiation Among Married Individuals

Abstract

Self-differentiation, the capacity to maintain a stable sense of self while remaining emotionally connected to significant others, is considered a cornerstone of healthy intimate relationships within Bowen family systems theory. Because self-differentiation depends on the ability to recognize and regulate one’s own emotional experience, it may be closely tied to alexithymia, a personality trait characterized by difficulty identifying, describing, and processing emotions. This study examined alexithymia as the independent variable (IV) and self-differentiation as the dependent variable (DV) among 300 married individuals recruited from Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Wah Cantt, and Taxila, Pakistan. A cross-sectional survey design was used, with alexithymia (IV) assessed via the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) and self-differentiation (DV) assessed via the Differentiation of Self Inventory-Revised Short Form (DSI-R-SF). Pearson correlation results revealed a significant negative relationship between alexithymia and self-differentiation (r = -.43, p < .01). These findings indicate that individuals with greater difficulty identifying and describing their emotions also show a reduced capacity to balance emotional closeness with a stable sense of self. Results are discussed in relation to Bowen family systems theory and its applicability within a collectivist, Pakistani cultural context, along with clinical implications, limitations, and directions for future research.