Psychological Separation from Parents and Academic Achievement: A Survey Based on Sexual and Cultural Differences
Subject Areas : روان درمانگری
Parirokh Dadsetan
1
(Ph.D Azad University Tehran South Br.)
Mohsen Haghbin
2
(Postgraduate Student of Psychology
Carlton University, Ottawa)
Saeideh Bazaziyan
3
(Ph.D Student of Psychology Tehran University)
Mohammad Reza H.Tavakoli
4
(Postgraduate of Psychology Tehran University)
Keywords: Academic Achievement, attachment, psychological separation, separation-individuation, Dependency, Independence,
Abstract :
Psychological separation, a term referring to a process of acquiring a feeling of self-independence without detachment from one's parents has been proven to play a role in the development of psychological adjustment in many different cultures. In this research, the status of psychological separation and its quadruple components, namely: emotional, functional, conflictual and attitudinal, in relation to parents and their role in student academic achievement have been investigated. Based on data obtained from the Hoffman Psychological Separation Inventory (PSI), administered on a total of 174 unmarried available students of the Islamic Azad University, having separated from their parents in pursuit of their academic careers; the overall score of psychological separation along with its different facets were determined and the Academic Achievement Index (AAI) was assessed. Statistical Analysis of data revealed a significant difference between the two sexes, showing a higher degree of independence in boys in respect to the overall score of psychological separation in general and the component of emotional independence in particular. Regression measures of AAI against psychological separation was meaningful in boys, the percentage of predictable variance being 13. A verage score comparison of Iranian students with those of their foreign counterparts revealed a lower level of conflictual and functional independence and a higher level of attitudinal independence in the sample. Results suggest that special attention should be devoted to the different aspects of separation regarding type of independecy and gender of both, students and parents.
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