An Analysis of Self: The Development and Assessment of a Measure of Selfobject Needs

Mental Health in Residential Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Moderating Role of Selfobject Needs

“…Based on the BS 95% CI, the average response on all scales did not overlap with zero and indicated that responses were lower than the normative reference. Therefore, reported responses in this sample are within the normal range of reported selfobject needs observed in the reported community sample (20).…”

“…All items are scored on a 1 (“Not at all true of me”) to 7 (“Very true of me”) scale, with higher scores reflecting greater amounts of unmet needs. Sample items include: “I feel that people do not appreciate the struggles I've had to face.” The AESOP was developed by clinicians and researchers operating within a self psychology framework ( 20 ). In its initial study, a sample of 686 participants completed the measure, and an exploratory factor analysis was conducted ( 20 ).…”

“…The AESOP was developed by clinicians and researchers operating within a self psychology framework (20). In its initial study, a sample of 686 participants completed the measure, and an exploratory factor analysis was conducted (20). A three-factor solution was identified, corresponding to the three identified selfobject needs.…”

“…The use of both exploratory and confirmatory analyses is highly beneficial for measurement validation, as due to constraints within the modeling process, confirmatory and exploratory analyses can produce discrepant results and do not share the same assumptions (40,41). The SONI, while generally demonstrating theoretically consistent patterns of relationships with the AESOP, has not fared as well in subsequent psychometric analyses, with its proposed factor structure proving somewhat tenuous (20,42).…”

“…Selfobject needs, as proposed by Heinz Kohut's theory of self psychology ( 13 – 16 ), is one theoretical model that can account for the experience of distress and other psychological symptoms, as well as the relational and personality features that are predictive of healthcare workers' responses to distress and trauma. This theory has been employed in a variety of clinical contexts ( 17 ), has proven relevant for occupational functioning ( 18 ), contributes to emotional resilience ( 19 ), and can be reliably measured ( 20 ). In brief, the theory advanced by Kohut proposes that an individual's ability to navigate emotional challenges will in large part be dependent upon the extent to which they have had, and continue to have, specific relational needs met.…”