Autonomy–connectedness, self-construal, and acculturation:Associations with mental health in a multicultural society

The present study investigated the associations between self-construal, acculturation, and autonomy?connectedness, as well as the relations between autonomy?connectedness and psychopathological symptoms, controlling for self-construal and acculturation. Participants were 1,209 Dutch individuals, of whom 693 (57.3%) were immigrants with a non-Western background. Results showed that an independent self-construal was positively associated with self-awareness and capacity for managing new situations, and was negatively associated with sensitivity to others (which are the three components of autonomy?connectedness). Moreover, an interdependent self-construal was negatively associated with self-awareness and capacity for managing new situations, and was positively associated with sensitivity to others. Importantly, the latter associations were similar for both Dutch natives and immigrants, and the associations between acculturation and autonomy?connectedness were small and nonsignificant. Autonomy?connectedness, after controlling for self-construal and acculturation, explained a large amount of additional variance in anxiety (12.7%) and depression (14.1), and a medium amount of additional variance in drive for thinness (3.7%) and bulimia (4.8%). Autonomy?connectedness, thus, seems to be an important construct for people with a Western background, as well as for immigrants with a non-Western background

Anxiety, depression and autonomy–connectedness:The mediating role of alexithymia and assertiveness

Objective Autonomy–connectedness (self-awareness, sensitivity to others, and capacity for managing new situations) reflects the capacity for self-governance, including in social relationships. Evidence showed that autonomy–connectedness is related to anxiety and depression. Little is known about the underlying mechanisms. We hypothesized that alexithymia and assertiveness would mediate the relationships between autonomy–connectedness and anxiety and depression. Method Relationships among the variables were investigated in 100 patients with a mean age of 42.2 suffering from anxiety and/or depression using a cross-sectional design. Results The relationship between self-awareness and both anxiety and depression was mediated by alexithymia. For anxiety, there was also a direct effect of sensitivity to others that was not explained by either alexithymia or assertiveness. Assertiveness did not have any mediational effect. Conclusions The results indicate that particularly alexithymia explains the association of autonomy–connectedness with anxiety and depression. Practitioner points The study confirmed the relevance of autonomy–connectedness in anxiety and depression. In treating symptoms of anxiety, it is advisable to give attention to normalizing the patient's sensitivity to others. Treatment of patients with symptoms of anxiety and depression should include assessment of emotional awareness and, in the case of impaired emotional awareness, should be tailored as to promote increased awareness

Meaning of autonomy-connectedness in a multi-cultural (treatment) context

This study aims at investigating the meaning of autonomy-connectedness for different ethnic groups, and the relationship between autonomy-connectedness and mental health problems

Meaning of autonomy-connectedness in a multi-cultural (treatment) context

This study aims at investigating the meaning of autonomy-connectedness for different ethnic groups, and the relationship between autonomy-connectedness and mental health problems