Cited by 23Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesMental Health Research TopicsPersonality Disorders and Psychopathology

Autonomy-connectedness mediates sex differences in symptoms of psychopathology

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Bekker, Marrie H. J., van Assen, Marcel A. L. M.·2017·PLoS ONE

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine if autonomy-connectedness, capacity for self-governance under the condition of connectedness, would mediate sex differences in symptoms of various mental disorders (depression, anxiety, eating disorders, antisocial personality disorder). METHOD: Participants (N = 5,525) from a representative community sample in the Netherlands filled out questionnaires regarding the variables under study. RESULTS: Autonomy-connectedness (self-awareness, SA; sensitivity to others, SO; capacity for managing new situations, CMNS) fully mediated the sex differences in depression and anxiety, and partly in eating disorder -(drive for thinness, bulimia, and body dissatisfaction) and anti-social personality disorder characteristics. The mediations followed the expected sex-specific patterns. SO related positively to the internalizing disorder indices, and negatively to the anti-social personality disorder. SA related negatively to all disorder indices; and CMNS to all internalizing disorder indices, but positively to the anti-social personality disorder. CONCLUSION: Treatment of depression, anxiety, but also eating disorders and the antisocial personality disorder may benefit from a stronger focus on autonomy strengthening.

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  1. [73]Baron‐Cohen S. Review: Autism. Adv Clin Neurosci Rehabil. 2007;7.
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Authors
Bekker, M. H. J., & van Assen, M. A. L. M.
Affiliations
Tilburg University (NL)
Corresponding author
Bekker, Marrie H. J.
Venue
PLoS ONE
Published
2017-08-03
Volume
12
Issue
8
Pages
e0181626
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2743489066
Cited by
23
References
115
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2015: 1
FWCI
2.49
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research portal (Tilburg University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Mental Health Research Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
Keywords
sex differences, psychopathology, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, antisocial personality disorder, self-awareness, sensitivity to others, mediation, internalizing disorders, bulimia nervosa, body dissatisfaction, drive for thinness
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Mental Disorders, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Psychopathology, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sex Characteristics, Young Adult

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