This study examined the sequential mediating effects of self-differentiation and ego-identity in the relationship between perceived parental rearing attitudes and interpersonal problems in early adulthood. A self-report survey was administered to 306 ...
This study examined the sequential mediating effects of self-differentiation and ego-identity in the relationship between perceived parental rearing attitudes and interpersonal problems in early adulthood. A self-report survey was administered to 306 adults aged 19 to 35.
First, perceived parental care was positively associated with self-differentiation and ego-identity and negatively associated with interpersonal problems, whereas perceived parental overprotection showed negative associations with self-differentiation and ego-identity and a positive association with interpersonal problems. Second, self-differentiation and ego-identity significantly mediated the relationship between parental rearing attitudes and interpersonal problems, and their sequential mediating effects were also supported. Third, multigroup analyses revealed that pathways related to parental care varied by gender, whereas maternal overprotection emerged as a key risk factor linking to interpersonal problems through reduced self-differentiation and ego-identity.
These findings underscore the importance of self-differentiation and ego-identity as core mechanisms for interpersonal adjustment in early adulthood and inform counseling and preventive programs.