| Summary: | Objectives. This study explored the relationship between distress and the perceptions that voice hearers have of their relationship with the voice they hear. It also explored associations between early parental relating and current voice relating. It was predicted that a dominant style of relating by the voice and a distancing style of relating by the voice hearer would be associated with distress. It was also predicted that parental overprotection would be associated with a dominant intrusive style of relating by the voice and low parental care would be associated with an abusive, intrusive style of relating by the voice. Method. A correlational design was adopted and 29 voice hearers participated in the study. Information was gathered about the characteristics of their voice-hearing experience, the level of distress experienced in relation to the voice, the relating style of the voice, the relating style of the voice hearer, parental care and overprotection, and levels of depression. Results. The tendency of the voice to relate in a dominating, abusive manner and the tendency of voice hearers to react with distancing and lack of communication, were associated with distress. However, the above associations were largely accounted for by depression. Paternal low care was associated with a dominant, abusive voice relating style. There was no other evidence of associations between early parental relating and voice relating. Conclusions. The pattern of interrelating characterised by a dominant voice and a distant voice hearer was associated with distress and depression. Clinical assessments may be enhanced by considering voices in interpersonal terms. Relating styles associated with distress and depression could become targets for therapeutic input. Further investigation into the origins of interpersonal relationships between voice and voice hearer is needed. Moreover, an exploration of the associations between voice hearer's current interpersonal relationships and voice relating might aid our understanding of this experience.
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