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The role of sex and autonomy-connectedness in internalizing and externalizing personality pathology,coping and axis-I pathology: among psychiatric and healthy elderly |
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| Authors: | Nathan Bachrach Marcel Croon Marrie Bekker |
| Affiliation: | 1. Vincent van Gogh for mental health care, Venray, Netherlands;2. Department of Methodology and Statistics, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands;3. Department of Developmental and Clinical Psychology, Tilburg University, Tilburg, Netherlands |
| Abstract: | Objectives: In the current study we investigated the relationship of sex and autonomy-connectedness with internalizing and externalizing personality disorder symptoms (PDS), coping and axis-I pathology in older age. Method: A path model was tested which was based on neo-analytical object relation, attachment- and primary-personality theory, among 100 clinical and 106 non-clinical elderly. Results: In line with our model, autonomy-connectedness (self-awareness and capacity of managing new situations) was strongly associated to internalizing PDS in both groups. In both groups, neither sex nor autonomy-connectedness predicted externalizing PDS. Sex, internalizing as well as externalizing PDS and reactive defensive coping were associated to axis-I psychopathology. Conclusions: We conclude that sex and autonomy-connectedness were, similarly as in adult populations, associated to internalizing PDS and axis-I pathology. Treatment of elderly with internalizing PDS and axis-I psychopathology should therefore focus on enhancing autonomy-connectedness. |
| Keywords: | autonomy-connectedness personality disorders internalizing–externalizing coping axis-pathology clinical population elderly |