The Prediction of Separation-Individuation through Self-Esteem in Turkish Adolescents

This study determines the relationship between separation-individuation and self-esteem in terms of how Turkish late adolescents evaluate themselves with the help of the prediction of self-esteem. The study group consisted of students studying 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grades in Anittepe High School, Ayranci High School, and Cumhuriyet High School. High-school form of the Separation-Individuation Test of Adolescence and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale were used as research instruments. The data gathered were analyzed with a multiple regression analysis method. The findings of this study revealed that self-esteem predicts separation anxiety, engulfment anxiety, teacher enmeshment, practicing mirroring, need denial, and rejection expectancy in a meaningful way. However, self-esteem does not predict nurturance seeking, peer enmeshment, and healthy separation. Research findings from the literature were discussed with those of the previous research and recommendations are presented.