Is Bowen theory valid? A review of basic research

Journal of Marital and Family Therapy

Volumn 30, Issue 4, 2004, Pages 453-466

  Miller, Richard B ^a   Anderson, Shayne ^b   Keala, Davelyne Kaulana ^c,d  

^a BRIGHAM YOUNG UNIVERSITY   (United States)

^b UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA   (United States)

^c UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII   (United States)

^d UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

EID: 7044239571     PISSN: 0194472X     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-0606.2004.tb01255.x     Document Type: Review

References (73)

1. Alexander, P. C., Moore, S., & Alexander, E. R. (1991). Intergenerational transmission of violence. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 53, 657-667.
2. Amato, P. R. (1996). Explaining the intergenerational transmission of divorce. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 58, 628-640.
3. Anderson, S. A., & Sabatelli, R. M. (1999). Family interaction: A multigenerational developmental perspective (2nd ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
4. Ault-Riche, M. (Ed.). (1986). Women and family therapy. Rockville, MD: Aspen.
5. Baucom, D. H., Shoham, V., Mueser, K. T., Daiuto, A. D., & Stickle, T. R. (1998). Empirically supported couple and family interventions for marital distress and adult mental health problems. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 66, 53-88.
6. Bell, L. G., & Bell, D. C. (1982). Family climate and the role of the female adolescent: determinants of adolescent functioning. Family Relations, 31, 519-527.
7. Bell, L. G., Bell, D. C., & Nakata, Y. (2001). Triangulation and adolescent development in the U.S. and Japan. Family Process, 40, 173-186.
8. Benson, M. J., Larson, J. H., Wilson, S. M., & Demo, D. H. (1993). Family of origin influences on late adolescent romantic relationships. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55, 663-672.
9. Bohlander, J. R. (1995). Differentiation of self, need fulfillment, and psychological well-being in married women. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, New York University.
10. Bohlander, R. W. (1999). Differentiation of self, need fulfillment, and psychological well-being in married men. Psychological Reports, 84, 1274-1280.
11. Boszormenyi-Nagy, I., & Spark, G. M. (1973). Invisible loyalties. New York: Harper and Row.
12. Bowen, M. (1976). Theory in the practice of psychotherapy. In P. J. Guerin, Jr. (Ed.), Family therapy: Theory and practice (pp. 42-90). New York: Garner Press.
13. Bowen, M. (1978). Family therapy in clinical practice. New York: Jason Aronson.
14. Bray, J. H., Williamson, D. S., & Harvey, D. M. (1987). Intergenerational family relationships: An evaluation of theory and measurement. Psychotherapy, 24, 516-528.
15. Broderick, C. B. (1993). Understanding family process: Basics of family systems theory. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
16. Charles, R. (2001). Is there any empirical support for Bowen's concepts of differentiation of self, triangulation, and fusion? American Journal of Family Therapy, 29, 279-292.
17. Citrin, R. (1982). The relationship between differentiation of self and interspousal perception. Dissertations and Abstracts International, 43, 2314.
18. Croake, J. W., & Olson, T. (1977). Family constellation and personality. Journal of Individual Psychology, 33, 9-17.
19. Davis, B., & Jones, L. C. (1992). Differentiation of self and attachment among adult daughters. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 13, 321-331.
20. Day, R. D. (2003). Introduction to family processes (4th ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
21. Dinkmeyer, D., Jr., & Dinkmeyer, D., Sr. (1991). Adlerian family therapy. In A. Horne & J. Passmore (Eds.) Family counseling and therapy (pp. 383-401). Itasca, IL: F. E. Peacock.
22. Eckstein, D. (2000). Empirical studies indicating significant birth-order related personality differences. Journal of Individual Psychology, 56, 481-494.
23. Elieson, M. V., & Rubin, L. J. (2001). Differentiation of self and major depressive disorders: A test of Bowen theory among clinical, traditional, and internet groups. Family Therapy, 29, 125-142.
24. Feng, D., Giarrusso, R., Bengtson, V. L., & Frye, N. (1999). Intergenerational transmission of marital quality and marital instability. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 61, 451-463.
25. Framo, J. L. (1976). Family of origin as a therapeutic resource for adults in marital and family therapy: You can and should go home again. Family Process, 15, 193-210.
26. Gehring, T. M., & Marti, D. (1993). The family system test: Differences in perception of family structures between nonclinical and clinical children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 34, 363-377.
27. Griffin, J. M., & Apostal, R. A. (1993). The influence of Relationship Enhancement training on differentiation of self. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 19, 267-272.
28. Haber, J. E. (1984). An investigation of the relationship between differentiation of self, complementary psychological need patterns, and marital conflict. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, New York University.
29. Haber, J. E. (1993). A construct validity study of a differentiation of self scale. Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice, 7, 165-178.
30. Home, K. B., & Hicks, M. W. (2002). All in the family: A belated response to Knudson-Martin's feminist revision of Bowen theory. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 28, 103-114.
31. Hoskins, C. N., & Merrifield, P. (1981). Teachers and counselors guide to interpersonal conflict scale. Saluda, NC: Family Life Publications.
32. Jacobvitz, D. B., & Bush, N. F. (1996). Reconstructions of family relationships: parent-child alliances, personal distress, and self-esteem. Developmental Psychology, 32, 732-743.
33. Johnson, P., & Nelson, M. D. (1998). Parental divorce, family functioning, and college student development: An intergenerational perspective. Journal of College Student Development, 39, 355-363.
34. Johnson, S., & Lebow, J. (2000). The "coming of age" of couple therapy: A decade review. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 26, 23-38.
35. Kaufman, J., & Zigler, E. (1987). Do abused children become abusive parents? American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 57, 186-192.
36. Kear, J. (1978). Marital attraction and satisfaction as a function of differentiation of self. Dissertations Abstracts International, 47, 2505.
37. Kerr, M. E. (1988, September). Chronic anxiety and defining a self. The Atlantic Monthly, 9, 35-58.
38. Kerr, M. E., & Bowen, M. (1988). Family evaluation. New York: Norton.
39. Knudson-Martin, C. (1994). The female voice: Applications to Bowen's Family Systems Theory. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 20, 35-46.
40. Kosek, R. (1998). Self differentiation within couples. Psychological Reports, 83, 275-279.
41. Larson, J. H., Benson, M. J., Wilson, S. M., & Medora, N. (1998). Family of origin influences on marital attitudes and readiness for marriage in late adolescents. Journal of Family Issues, 19, 750-768.
42. Larson, J. H., & Wilson, S. M. (1998). Family of origin influences on young adult career decision problems: A test of Bowenian theory. American Journal of Family Therapy, 26, 39-53.
43. Lopez, F. G. (1991). Patterns of family conflict and their relation to college student adjustment. Journal of Counseling and Development, 69, 257-260.
44. Maynard, S. (1997). Growing up in an alcoholic family system: The effect on anxiety and differentiation of self. Journal of Substance Abuse, 9, 161-170.
45. Miller, R. B., Johnson, L. N., Sandberg, J. G., Stringer-Seibold, T. A., & Gfeller-Strouts, L. (2000). An addendum to the 1997 outcome research chart. American Journal of Family Therapy, 28, 347-354.
46. Nichols, M. P., & Schwartz, R. C. (2001). Family therapy: Concepts and methods (5th ed.). Boston: Allyn & Bacon.
47. Profinsky, H., & Gilkey, J. K. (1996). An empirical investigation of the construct of personality authority in late adolescent women and their level of college adjustment. Adolescence, 31, 291-296.
48. Richards, E. R. (1989). Self reports of differentiation of self and marital compatibility as related to family functioning in the third and fourth stages of the family life cycle. Scholarly Inquiry for Nursing Practice: An International Journal, 3, 163-175.
49. Richter, S. (1998). Couple similarity in differentiation of self. Masters Abstracts, 36, 1280.
50. Rosen, K. H., Bartle-Haring, S., & Stith, S. M. (2001). Using Bowen theory to enhance understanding of the intergenerational transmission of dating violence. Journal of Family Issues, 22, 124-142.
51. Schnarch, D. (1997). Passionate marriage: Sex, love, and intimacy in emotionally committed relationships. New York: Norton.
52. Sher, K. J., Gershuny, B. S., Peterson, L., & Raskin, G. (1997). The role of childhood stressors in the intergenerational transmission of alcohol use disorders. Journal of Studies on Alcohol, 58, 414-427.
53. Skowron, E. A. (2000). The role of differentiation of self in marital adjustment. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47, 229-237.
54. Skowron, E. A., & Friedlander, M. L. (1998). The differentiation of self inventory: Development and initial validation. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 45, 235-246.
55. Skowron, E. A., Holmes, S. E., & Sabatelli, R. M. (2003). Deconstructing differentiation: Self regulation, interdependent relating, and well-being in adulthood. Contemporary Family Therapy, 25, 111-129.
56. Skowron, D. A., & Schmitt, T. A. (2003). Assessing interpersonal fusion: Reliability and validity of a new DSI Fusion with Others subscale. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 29, 209-222.
57. Smith, J. B., Ray, R. E., Wetchler, J. L., & Mihail, T. (1998). Levels of fusion, triangulation, and adjustment in families of college students with physical and cognitive disabilities. American Journal of Family Therapy, 26, 29-38.
58. Sulloway, F. J. (1995). Birth order and evolutionary psychology: A meta-analytic overview. Psychological Inquiry, 6, 75-80.
59. Toman, W. (1976). Family constellation: Its effects on personality and social behavior. New York: Springer.
60. Troll, L., & Bengtson, V. L. (1979). Generations in the family. In W. R. Burr, R. Hill, F. I. Nye, and I. L Reiss (Eds.), Contemporary theories about the family, Vol. 1 (pp. 127-161). New York: The Free Press.
61. Tuason, M. T., & Friedlander, M. L. (2000). Do parents' differentiation levels predict those of their adult children? And other tests of Bowen theory in a Philippine Sample. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47, 27-35.
62. Vockell, E. L., & Felker, D. W. (1971). Self-classification by subjects using Toman's birth order categories. Psychological Reports, 29, 1010.
63. Vuchinich, S., Emery, R. E., & Cassidy, J. (1988). Family members as third parties in dyadic family conflict: Strategies, alliances, and outcomes. Child Development, 59, 1293-1302.
64. Wang, L., & Crane, D. R. (2001). The relationship between marital satisfaction, marital stability, nuclear family triangulation and childhood depression. American Journal of Family Therapy, 29, 337-347.
65. Watkins, C. E. (1992). Birth order research and Adler's theory: A critical review. Individual Psychology, 48, 357-368.
66. Weinberg, L. H. (1978). Differentiation and fusion in marital relationships. Dissertation Abstracts International, 39, 10028.
67. West, J. D., Hosie, T. W., & Zarski, J. J. (1987). Family dynamics and substance abuse: a preliminary study. Journal of Counseling and Development, 65, 487-490.
68. West, J. D., Zarski, J. J., & Harvill, R. (1986). The influence of the family triangle on intimacy. American Mental Health Counselors Association Journal, 8, 166-174.
69. Whitbeck, L., Hoyt, D., Simons, R., Conger, R., Elder, G., Lorenz, F., & Huck, S. (1992). Intergenerational continuity of parental rejection and depressed affect. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63, 1036-1045.
70. Whitehouse, P. J., & Harris, G. (1998). The intergenerational transmission of eating disorders. European Eating Disorders Review, 6, 238-254.
71. Weiner, E. L. (1989). Emotional cutoff and divorce adjustment. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Kansas State University.
72. Wood, B., Watkins, J. B., Boyle, J. T., Nogueira, J., Zimand, E., & Carroll, L. (1989). The "psychosomatic family" model: An empirical and theoretical analysis. Family Process, 28, 399-417.
73. Wynne, L. (1997). MFT research conference overview. Paper presented at the 1997 AAMFT Research Conference, Same Fe, NM.