Psychological Correlates of Codependency in Women

Abstract

This study examined several potential psychological correlates of codependency to determine the parameters and feasibility of the codependency construct. Subjects were 171 adult female volunteers from a university. Results indicated significant relationships between codependency and: object relations and reality testing (p = .01), intensity of depression (p < .01), introjective depression (p < .001), and history of abuse (p < .001). The results are supportive of codependency as a useful construct which involves a cluster of difficulties in interpersonal relationships, reality testing, and introjective depression. An association was demonstrated between codependency and parental alcoholism, or history of childhood abuse, or both.