We often try hard to stay connected to others (e.g., to friends and family). But how do we stay connected to ourselves? Self-connection is a new, important concept, one which I will discuss in the rest of this post. To do so, I describe a recent study by Klussman and colleagues on the development and validation of a new measure called the self-connection scale.
What is self-connection?
Self-connection has three components. These consist of self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-alignment.
- Self-awareness: Awareness of one’s internal experiences, thoughts, emotions, sensations, preferences, values, intuitions, resources, goals, etc.
- Self-acceptance: Full acknowledgment and acceptance, without judgment, of self-relevant characteristics and experiences. And seeing them as part of us and belonging to us.
- Self-alignment: Using self-knowledge to behave in ways that authentically reflect oneself and fulfill one’s psychological needs (e.g., autonomy).
All three components are required for self-connection. For instance, awareness without acceptance may result in self-loathing and self-harm.
Before we continue, let me note that self-connection is different from similar concepts such as authenticity and mindfulness. Authenticity is only one element of it (i.e., self-alignment).
And mindfulness is closer in meaning to a combination of self-awareness and self-acceptance, but not self-alignment. Let us take a brief look at the research by Klussman and colleagues on the measurement of self-connection.
Investigating the validity and reliability of the self-connection scale
Study 1
Sample: 308 participants; 49 percent female; average age of 38 years old; 80 percent white; 45 percent with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Measures
- Self-connection: A pool of 29 items
- Authenticity: Authenticity Scale
- Mindfulness: Cognitive and Affective Mindfulness Scale-Revised
- Self-concept clarity: Self-Concept Clarity Scale
- Flourishing: Flourishing Scale
- Meaning: Presence of Meaning subscale of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire
Study 2
Sample: 164 participants; 39 percent female; average age of 36 years old; 77 percent white; 47 percent with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Measures
- Self-connection: The Self-Connection Scale developed in the previous investigation
- Life satisfaction: “In general, how satisfied are you with your life?”
- Positive and negative affect: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
- Anxiety and depression: Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety (PHQ-4)
- CDC health measures: CDC Healthy Days Questionnaire
- Health behaviors: Preventive Health Behaviors Scale
Study 3
Sample: 992 participants; 56 percent female; average age of 34 years old; 72 percent white; 52 percent with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Measures
- Anxiety and depression: PHQ-4
- Eudaimonic well-being: Flourishing Scale and Presence of Meaning subscale of the Meaning in Life Questionnaire
- Hedonic well-being: Positive and Negative Affect Schedule
- Self-connection: The Self-Connection Scale
- Self-acceptance: The self-acceptance subscale of Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale
- Self-compassion: The Self-Compassion Scale-Short Form
Results
The Self-Connection Scale demonstrated good reliability and validity. For instance, analysis of data showed it was related to similar constructs—authenticity, mindfulness, self-compassion, self-acceptance, self-concept clarity, hedonic and eudaimonic well-being—yet distinct from them.
In addition, the factor structure of the scale was confirmed.
Testing your self-connection
To determine your level of self-connection using the scale developed in the study, follow the instructions below.
Indicate your agreement with the items from the Self-Connection Scale—whether you strongly disagree (1), disagree (2), somewhat disagree (3), neither agree nor disagree (4), somewhat agree (5), agree (6), or strongly agree (7). The numbers in parentheses are the scores associated with each response. Note, Item 4 should be reverse-scored.
- I have a deep understanding of myself.
- It is easy for me to identify and understand how I am feeling in any given moment.
- I know myself well.
- I am often surprised by how little I understand myself.
- I try not to judge myself.
- When I find out things about myself that I don’t necessarily like, I try to accept those things.
- Even when I don’t like a feeling or belief that I have, I try to accept it as a part of myself.
- I can easily forgive myself for mistakes I have made.
- I find small ways to ensure that my life truly reflects the things that are important to me.
- I spend time making sure that I am acting in a way that is a reflection of my true self.
- I try to make sure that my actions are consistent with my values.
- I try to make sure that my relationships with other people reflect my values.
So, how did you do? Note: The first four scale items are related to self-awareness, the next four to self-acceptance, and the last four to self-alignment.
A high score suggests a high level of self-connection. A low score suggests you are either not self-aware, not accepting of yourself, or do not act in concert with your feelings, beliefs, values, goals, etc.
Needless to say, a high score is desirable. Indeed, research by the authors shows that self-connection is associated with a number of positive outcomes. These include positive emotions, life satisfaction, flourishing, clarity in life, and meaning in life.
People who are disconnected from themselves are more likely to experience negative emotions (e.g., sadness, anger, confusion, stress) and feel their life is unsatisfactory and has no purpose.
Takeaway
Many of us commit to staying in touch with friends and coworkers, current events, the newest trends, and the latest cutting-edge technology, but rarely commit to staying in touch with ourselves—our changing feelings, sensations, thoughts, inner resources, goals, etc.
If you belong to this group and are disconnected from yourself, there are ways to remedy the situation. Simply pause a few times during the day and check how self-connected you feel. Ask: In the last little while…
- Have I been self-aware?
- Have I been self-accepting?
- Has my behavior reflected my true self?
Commit to getting to know yourself better and becoming your best friend. It may change your life.
By: Arash Emamzadeh
Source: 12 Questions to Test Your Level of Self-Connection | Psychology Today
More contents:
- The Cognitive Self: The Self-Concept – Principles of Social Psychology – 1st International Edition”.
- Role of Affective Self-Regulatory Efficacy in Diverse Spheres of Psychosocial Functioning”
- Telling more than we can know: Verbal reports on mental
- Teacher–child interactions: relations with children’s self-concept in second grade”.
- Classroom social experiences as predictors of academic performance”. Rejection sensitivity moderates the impact of rejection on self-concept clarity”.
- Rediscovering Rogers’s Self Theory and Personality”
- Child Development: A Thematic Approach
- Introduction to Behavioral Science in Medicine
- The Influence of Gender, Self-Identity and Organizational Tenure on Environmental Sustainability Orientation”
- Self-Concept and Masculinity/Femininity Among Normal Male Individuals and Males with Gender Identity Disorder”.
- When group membership gets personal: A theory of identity fusion”
- The Concept of Self in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christianity and Its Implication for Interfaith Relations
- More Remote Working Apps:https://quintexcapital.com/?ref=arminham Quintex Capital
https://www.genesis-mining.com/a/2535466 Genesis Mining
http://www.bevtraders.com/?ref=arminham BevTraders
https://www.litefinance.com/?uid=929237543 LiteTrading
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/369164 prime stocks
https://jvz3.com/c/202927/361015 content gorilla
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/366443 stock rush
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/373449 forrk
https://jvz3.com/c/202927/194909 keysearch
https://jvz4.com/c/202927/296191 gluten free
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/286851 diet fitness diabetes
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/213027 writing job
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/108695 postradamus
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/372094 stoodaio
https://jvz4.com/c/202927/358049 profile mate
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/279944 senuke
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/54245 asin
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/370227 appimize
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/376524 super backdrop
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/302715 audiencetoolkit
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/375487 4brandcommercial
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/375358 talkingfaces
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/375706 socifeed
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/184902 gaming jobs
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/88118 backlink indexer
- https://jvz1.com/c/202927/376361 powrsuite
https://jvz3.com/c/202927/370472 tubeserp
https://jvz4.com/c/202927/343405 PR Rage
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/371547 design beast
https://jvz3.com/c/202927/376879 commission smasher
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/376925 MT4Code System
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/375959 viral dash
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/376527 coursova
https://jvz4.com/c/202927/144349 fanpage
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/376877 forex expert
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/374258 appointomatic
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/377003 woocommerce
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/377005 domainname
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/376842 maxslides
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/376381 ada leadz
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/333637 eyeslick
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/376986 creaitecontentcreator
https://jvz4.com/c/202927/376095 vidcentric
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/374965 studioninja
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/374934 marketingblocks https://jvz3.com/c/202927/372682 clipsreel
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/372916 VideoEnginePro
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/144577 BarclaysForexExpert
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/370806 Clientfinda
https://jvz3.com/c/202927/375550 Talkingfaces
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/370769 IMSyndicator
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/283867 SqribbleEbook
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/376524 superbackdrop
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/376849 VirtualReel
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/369837 MarketPresso
https://jvz1.com/c/202927/342854 voiceBuddy
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/377211 tubeTargeter
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/377557 InstantWebsiteBundle
https://jvz6.com/c/202927/368736 soronity
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/337292 DFY Suite 3.0 Agency+ information
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/291061 VideoRobot Enterprise
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/327447 Klippyo Kreators
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/324615 ChatterPal Commercial
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/299907 WP GDPR Fix Elite Unltd Sites
https://jvz8.com/c/202927/328172 EngagerMate
https://jvz3.com/c/202927/342585 VidSnatcher Commercial
https://jvz3.com/c/202927/292919 myMailIt
https://jvz3.com/c/202927/320972 Storymate Luxury Edition
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/320466 iTraffic X – Platinum Edition
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/330783 Content Gorilla One-time
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/301402 Push Button Traffic 3.0 – Brand New
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/321987 SociCake Commercial https://jvz2.com/c/202927/289944 The Internet Marketing
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/297271 Designa Suite License
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/310335 XFUNNELS FE Commercial
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/291955 ShopABot
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/312692 Inboxr
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/343635 MediaCloudPro 2.0 – Agency
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/353558 MyTrafficJacker 2.0 Pro+
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/365061 AIWA Commercial
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/357201 Toon Video Maker Premium
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/351754 Steven Alvey’s Signature Series
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/344541 Fade To Black
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/290487 Adsense Machine
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/315596 Diddly Pay’s DLCM DFY Club
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/355249 CourseReel Professional
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/309649 SociJam System
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/263380 360Apps Certification
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/359468 LocalAgencyBox
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/377557 Instant Website Bundle
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/377194 GMB Magic Content
https://jvz2.com/c/202927/376962 PlayerNeos VR