title: The role of sex and autonomy-connectedness in internalizing and externalizing personality pathology, coping and axis-I pathology: among psychiatric and healthy elderly.
abstract: In the current study we investigated the relationship of sex and autonomy-connectedness with internalizing and externalizing personality disorder symptoms (PDS), coping and axis-I pathology in older age.
  
  
  
  A path model was tested which was based on neo-analytical object relation, attachment- and primary-personality theory, among 100 clinical and 106 non-clinical elderly.
  
  
  
  In line with our model, autonomy-connectedness (self-awareness and capacity of managing new situations) was strongly associated to internalizing PDS in both groups. In both groups, neither sex nor autonomy-connectedness predicted externalizing PDS. Sex, internalizing as well as externalizing PDS and reactive defensive coping were associated to axis-I psychopathology.
  
  
  
  We conclude that sex and autonomy-connectedness were, similarly as in adult populations, associated to internalizing PDS and axis-I pathology. Treatment of elderly with internalizing PDS and axis-I psychopathology should therefore focus on enhancing autonomy-connectedness.
authors.affiliation: a Vincent van Gogh for mental health care , Venray , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bachrach
authors.affiliation: b Department of Methodology and Statistics , Tilburg University, Tilburg , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marcel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Croon
authors.affiliation: c Department of Developmental and Clinical Psychology , Tilburg University, Tilburg , Netherlands.
authors.forename: Marrie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bekker
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012044:Regression Analysis; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: autonomy-connectedness; axis-pathology; clinical population; coping; elderly; internalizing–externalizing; personality disorders