The Relationship between Parentification Experience and Self-Differentiation of University Students: Sequential mediating effects of Self-silencing and Ambivalence over Emotional expressiveness

Objectives This study was to investigate a sequential mediating effect of self-silencing and ambivalence over emotional expressiveness in the relationship between parentification experience and self-differentiation. Methods For the purpose of the study, a total of 400 college students completed a research packet including the Filial Responsibility Scale-Adult (FRS-A), Silencing The Self Scale(STSS), Ambivalence over Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire(AEQ-K), and Korean Version of Self-Differentiation Scale. Data were analyzed by using SPSS program and a Bootstrapping was used to test the significance of the mediating effects. Results The results indicated that parentification experience was negatively correlated with self-differentiation and positively correlated with self-silencing and ambivalence over emotional expressiveness. Second, parentification experience showed a direct effect on self-differentiation and an indirect effect on self-differentiation. Third, a sequential mediating effect of self-silencing and ambivalence over emotional expressiveness in the relationship between parentification experience and self-differentiation. Conclusions The implications and the limitations of the study were discussed.