The Association between Differentiation of Self and Emotional Connectedness in a Sample of Panamanian Emerging Adults

Abstract Differentiation of self represents the integration of two life forces: autonomy and connection with others. The aims of this study were to test whether differentiation was associated with emotional connectedness in a sample of Panamanian emerging adults (n = 110) and to explore the psychometric properties of two instruments for use in the Panamanian cultural-context: the Spanish-Differentiation of Self Inventory (SDSI-R) and the Relational Health Indices – Spanish (RHI-S). Emotional cutoff showed a significant association with emotional connectedness while results showed no evidence of a relationship between emotional reactivity and emotional connectedness. Both questionnaires demonstrated reliability and validity. Implications for family therapy are discussed.