Physiological symptoms and differentiation of self: A cross-cultural examination

The study examined the relationship between physiological symptoms and differentiation of self, comparing young Jewish and Arab adults in Israel. The sample consisted of 282 college students, including 162 Jews and 120 Arabs. Results showed that the Arabs reported higher levels of I-position and emotional cutoff and lower levels of fusion with others and emotional reactivity than the Jews. Physiological symptoms were positively correlated with emotional reactivity and emotional cutoff among the Jews and positively correlated with emotional reactivity among the Arabs. On the whole, the results lend partial support to the universality of the Family Systems Theory and point to the importance of examining differentiation of self when trying to promote physical and psychological health. At the same time, they suggest that differentiation of self is valued differently in different ethnic groups.

► The Jewish participants (representing an individualistic society) reported higher levels of emotional reactivity and fusion with others than the Arab participants (representing a collectivist society), while the Arab participants reported higher levels of I-position and emotional cutoff than the Jewish participants. ► Emotional reactivity was positively related to physiological symptoms among both the Jewish and Arab participants, and physiological symptoms were explained primarily by the level of emotional reactivity among both. ► Higher levels of emotional cutoff predicted higher levels of physiological symptoms only among the Jewish participants.