Structural Modeling of Fear of Intimacy Based on Object Relations with the Mediating Role of Splitting Emotional Conflict in Individuals Aged 25 to 50
Keywords:
Fear of intimacy, Object relations, Splitting emotional conflict, Structural equation modeling, Adult relationshipsAbstract
The objective of this study was to examine the structural relationship between object relations and fear of intimacy, with the mediating role of splitting emotional conflict, in adults aged 25 to 50 years. This research employed a descriptive–correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population included individuals aged 25–50 years who referred to counseling centers and psychology clinics in Tehran in 2023. A purposive and convenience non-random sampling method was used to select 300 participants who met the inclusion criteria. Data were collected using the Fear of Intimacy Scale (Descutner & Thelen, 1991), the Bell Object Relations Inventory (Bell, 1995), and the Self-Criticism/Self-Attack/Self-Reassurance Scale (Gilbert et al., 2004). Reliability and validity of the measures were confirmed, and data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27 for descriptive statistics and SmartPLS version 3 for SEM analysis. The results indicated that object relations significantly predicted splitting emotional conflict (β = 0.762, t = 22.282, p < 0.01) and fear of intimacy (β = 0.748, t = 21.799, p < 0.01). Splitting emotional conflict also significantly predicted fear of intimacy (β = 0.757, t = 22.105, p < 0.01). Furthermore, the indirect effect of object relations on fear of intimacy through splitting conflict was 0.576, and the total effect was 1.080, both statistically significant. Goodness-of-fit indices confirmed adequate model fit (R² = 0.586, GOF = 0.577, Q² = 0.238, NFI = 0.956). The findings suggest that dysfunctional object relations influence fear of intimacy both directly and indirectly through splitting emotional conflict, emphasizing the importance of early relational schemas and defense mechanisms in adult relational functioning. These results highlight the relevance of targeting object relations and splitting conflict in therapeutic interventions aimed at reducing intimacy fears and improving interpersonal relationships.
Downloads
References
1. Anand SS, Sinha A. Social anxiety and fear of intimacy among young adults. World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews. 2024;21(3):2395-402. doi: 10.30574/wjarr.2024.21.3.0967.
2. Ahmadi S, Ghasemipour Y. Comparison of fear of intimacy, alexithymia, and satisfaction of basic psychological needs in successful and unsuccessful individuals in addiction withdrawal. Addiction Research. 2021;15(62):185-204. doi: 10.52547/etiadpajohi.15.62.185.
3. Clarkin JF, Caligor E, Sowislo JF. An Object Relations Model Perspective on the Alternative Model for Personality Disorders (DSM-5). Psychopathology. 2020;53(3):141-8. doi: 10.1159/000508353.
4. Rajabi G, Maghami E. Self-compassion as a mediator between attachment dimensions and subjective well-being: A path analysis model. Health Psychology. 2014;3(4):4-16.
5. Besharat MA, Keshavarz S, Gholamali Lavasani M. The mediating role of self-compassion and self-control in the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and quality of life. Developmental Psychology: Iranian Psychologists. 2015;11(44):341-55.
6. Hinshelwood RD, Fortuna T. Melanie Klein: The Basics. New York: Taylor & Francis; 2018.
7. Joseph M, Witter M. Internalized Object Relationship as an Advanced Level of Psychodiagnosis. Journal of Contemporary ISTDP. 2024;1(1). doi: 10.70839/2pjrxv44.
8. Perullo N. Aesthetics without Objects and Subjects: Relational Thinking for Global Challenges: Bloomsbury Publishing; 2025.
9. Bahrami Z, Heidari A. Combination of transactional analysis therapy and hypnotherapy in the treatment of emotional conflicts: A case study in Iran. International Journal of Psychological Studies. 2021;13(1):40-7. doi: 10.5539/ijps.v13n1p40.
10. Adl HAS, Pirani Z, Abbasi M. Comparison of the effectiveness of enhanced cognitive‐behavioral couple therapy on emotional self‐regulation and couple burnout of self‐assigned and court‐referred incompatible couples. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy. 2024;50(4):785-800. doi: 10.1111/jmft.12722.
11. Gilbert P, Procter S. Compassionate mind training for people with high shame and self‐criticism: Overview and pilot study of a group therapy approach. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy. 2006;13(6):353-79. doi: 10.1002/cpp.507.
12. Dailey J, Timulak L, Goldman RS, Greenberg LS. Capturing the change: a case study investigation of emotional and interactional transformation in emotion-focused therapy for couples. Person-Centered & Experiential Psychotherapies. 2023:1-19. doi: 10.1080/14779757.2023.2204480.
13. Thai H, Borg C, Binik YM, Sinai M. Sexual Aversion, Disgust, and Fear of Intimacy: A Comprehensive Case History Using a Multimodal Therapeutic Approach. Archives of Sexual Behavior. 2024:1-10. doi: 10.1007/s10508-024-03044-8.
14. Jafari Razji F, Arvin S, Nikravi F, Ghafarian S. The role of basic psychological need satisfaction, difficulty in emotion regulation, and loneliness in predicting fear of intimacy in female sex workers. Developmental Psychology Journal. 2021;10(7).
15. Zagefka H, Clarke Z, Kabeli G, Lundy C, Plumtree A, Smith G. Lay beliefs about romantic relationship: A mediator of the effect of family dysfunction on romantic relationship satisfaction. Journal of adult development. 2021;28(4):299-308. doi: 10.1007/s10804-021-09374-4.
16. Bonache H, Gonzalez-Mendez R, Krahé B. Adult attachment styles, destructive conflict resolution, and the experience of intimate partner violence. Journal of Interpersonal Violence. 2019;34(2):287-309. doi: 10.1177/0886260516640776.
17. Rayatdoost F, Ramezani MA, Azadiketa M. Investigating the mediating role of sexual satisfaction in the relationship between dyadic conflicts and marital relationship quality in married Iranians. Journal of Clinical Psychology & Counseling, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. 2021;11(2).
18. Tabatabaei SS, Besharat MA, Lavasani MG. Predicting sexual problems based on fear of intimacy and procrastination. Developmental Psychology Journal. 2021;10(2).
19. Watt AS, Kidd M, Roos A, Lesch E. Romantic relationship dissolutions are significantly associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms as compared to a DSM-5 criterion A event: A case-case- control comparison. European Journal of Psychotraumatology. 2023;14(2):1-18. doi: 10.1080/20008066.2023.2238585.
20. Akcan G, Baykal NB, Genc E. Growing up with a cheating father: A qualitative analysis of adult daughters' family and romantic relationships. International Journal of Systemic Therapy. 2023;34(3):1-16. doi: 10.1080/2692398X.2023.2224715.
21. Elliott R, Watson J, Goldman R, Greenberg L. Learning emotion-focused therapy: The process-experiential approach to change. Tehran: Arasbaran Publications; 2013.
22. Glisenti K, Strodl E, King R, Greenberg L. The feasibility of emotion-focused therapy for binge-eating disorder: a pilot randomised wait-list control trial. Journal of Eating Disorders. 2021;9:1-15. doi: 10.1186/s40337-020-00358-5.
23. Garay AR, Mosquera D. Using EMDR to treat intimate partner relationship break-up issues. Frontiers in Psychology. 2022;13:1-14. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.971856.
24. Mesgarian F, Azadfallah P, Farahani H, Ghorbani N. Psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BORRTI). Clinical Psychology and Personality. 2020;15(2):193-204.
25. Kline RB. Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. New York: The Guilford Press; 2016.
26. Ali E, Letourneau N, Benzies K. Parent-child attachment: A principle-based concept analysis. SAGE Open Nursing. 2021;7:237796082110090. doi: 10.1177/23779608211009000.
27. Hassanzadeh M, Samavati M. The relationship between attachment styles and marital conflicts with the mediation of dyadic perspective-taking and fear of intimacy. Modern Psychological Research. 2022;17(65).
28. Yenni R, Arun PV, editors. Integrated Deep Learning Segmentation and Graph Convolutional Networks with Relaxation Labeling for Object Relationship Extraction in Satellite Imagery. 2024 IEEE India Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (InGARSS); 2024.
Downloads
Published
Submitted
Revised
Accepted
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Leila Asgharnia (Author); Tahereh Hamzehpoor Haghighi; Mahdi Khasmohammadi , Nooshin Pordelan (Author)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
