Macalester College - Family Distancing - Differentiation of Self and Social Support Moderation

Aug 27, 2026

Family distancing is examined in relation to differentiation of self (DoS), drawing on family systems theory and contrasting models that recognize conditional kinship ties. The study tests whether social supports outside the family of origin moderate the association between family distancing and DoS. A convenience sample of 122 adults over 18 completed surveys; results show greater distancing predicts poorer DoS. Social support buffered the negative link for college/university students but intensified it for non-college participants, with theoretical and methodological implications discussed.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages20

Reading Time50 min

AccessFree to download

Overview

Conceptual background: family systems and distancing

Research aim and hypotheses

Method

Results

Implications

Macalester College Family distancing, estrangement, found family, differentiation of self, family systems, social supports June 11th, 2025 [https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6822047/v1](https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-6822047/v1) 􀁱 􀅏 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Read Full License No competing interests reported. This study examined how family distancing was associated with differentiation of self, and how that relationship was moderated by sources of social support outside the family of origin. Research in family systems suggests that poorly differentiated individuals have unresolved emotional tensions with their family of origin, resulting in a diminished ability to balance emotional intimacy with personal autonomy. However, alternative research exploring family distancing has suggested that limiting or fully ending communication with one’s family of origin can sometimes be necessary and healthy for individuals, with research also suggesting that individuals may create their own sense of family in the face of distancedor estranged family relationships. Therefore, this study explored the extent to which individuals may rely on social relationships beyond the family of origin to maintain high levels of self-differentiation in the face of distanced relationships. A convenience sample of 122 individuals above the age of 18 was recruited for participation. Analysis of survey data revealed 1) that more family distancing predicted poorer DoS, and 2) that the relationship between family distancing and DoS was moderated by social supports depending on educational status; social supports buffered the negative relationship between family distancing and DoS for college/university students (n = 89), but exacerbated this negative relationship for participants not attending college/university (n = 33) . Theoretical and methodological implications of the «ndings are discussed. The phrase “blood runs thicker than water” has been interpreted in American culture to highlight the immense value of biological family. Today, many believe that the family of origin is held together by unconditional bonds stronger than those of any other interpersonal relationships. Trailing back as early as Freud’s (1900) conception of the Oedipus complex, theoretical and empirical work across the discipline of psychology has long been interested in how family ties are not only di cult to completely sever but also seem to play a key role in lifespan development. Murray Bowen (1978) followed this work by pioneering a systems-based approach to family functioning. This approach introduced the idea that an individual’s psychological functioning must be understood in context with interpersonal and emotional dynamics permeating the family unit. Bowen's family systems theory (BFST) therefore posits that humans, even while developing a solid sense of self and individuality, are nonetheless inexorably emotionally bound to the family of origin (Bowen, 1978) . Despite BFST’s emphasis on a healthy family unit for positive psychological functioning in individuals, more recent attention has been allocated to models of family or kinship that do not rely on ties to the family of origin. Scholars have begun suggesting that family ties are conditional, and that family distancing can sometimes be necessary for an individual to preserve safety and well-being (Scharp, 2019) . Family distancing pertains to the steps that one may take to weaken their level of involvement in the family (Scharp & Dorrance Hall, 2017), characterized by behaviors such as geographical distancing and excommunication. Individuals may distance themselves from the family of origin due to factors such as emotional tension and dissatisfaction with the relationship, among others. While research on the lived experiences of family distancing have suggested that the distancing process can be profoundly troubling for parents whose children ha

FAQs

What is family distancing in this study?

Family distancing refers to steps that reduce involvement with the family of origin, including behaviors such as geographical distancing and excommunication.

How does family distancing relate to differentiation of self (DoS)?

Analysis shows that more family distancing predicts poorer differentiation of self (DoS).

How does social support outside the family affect the distancing-DoS relationship?

Social support moderates the association by education status: it buffers the negative relationship for college/university students but exacerbates it for participants not attending college/university.

Aug 27, 2026

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