Couple differentiation and health-related quality of life.

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to examine whether couple differentiation influenced mental and physical health-related quality of life in couple members. Data for this study were derived from a larger study at a couple a family therapy clinic. One hundred and thirty-three couples were included in a latent profile analysis, and seventy-two couples were included in analyses of mean differences. The latent profile analysis resulted in three distinct groups by level of couple differentiation high, moderate, or low in differentiation of self. Analyses of variance indicated evidence that couple differentiation influenced health-related quality-of-life measures. Findings are discussed in the context of Bowen Family Systems Theory and the existing literature.