Relationship between parenting, alexithymia and adult attachment styles: a cross-national study in Sicilian and Andalusian young adults

Authors

  • Monica Pellerone "Kore" University of Enna https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8816-8905
  • Ivan Formica Department of Cognitive Sciences, Education and Cultural Studies, University of Messina
  • Monica Hernandez Lopez Universidad de Jaen, Andalusia, Spain
  • Simona Migliorisi “Kore” University of Enna,
  • Riccardo Granà “Kore” University of Enna,

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6092/2282-1619/2017.5.1557

Keywords:

Parenting, Alexithymia, Adult attachment, Spain, Italy

Abstract

Background: Literature underline that attachment styles can be considered as an important factor that facilitates exploration of the self and environment, and influences individual’s thoughts, feelings and behavior, above all during adolescence.

The purposes of the present study were the following: to investigate the relation between parenting, alexithymia and adult attachment styles; to measure the predictive variables of the adult attachment-related anxiety and avoidance, and the predictors of the level of alexithymia.

Method: The participants were 217 students, of which: a group of 97 Andalusian academic students (44.7%), aged between 18 and 29 (M = 19.47; SD = 2.23); a group of 120 students from Sicilian academic students (55.3%), aged between 18 and 23 (M = 18.85; SD = 1.11).

The participants were assigned to complete the following questionnaires: the Parental Bonding Instrument, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Experience in Close Relationships.

Results: Findings suggest that there are differences between Italy and Spain in adult attachment styles: in particular, Italian students appeared to manifest a higher tendency to use the avoidance style than Spanish ones, which manifested a higher level of anxiety. Furthermore, belonging to the Andalusian culture, and above all, having an elevated perception of the paternal and maternal overprotection could represent possible predictive variables to the general level of alexithymia.

Conclusions: The results of this study support the research hypothesis that alexithymia is associated with the perceived parental bonding and attachment style.

Author Biographies

  • Monica Pellerone, "Kore" University of Enna
    Faculty of Human and Social Sciences
  • Ivan Formica, Department of Cognitive Sciences, Education and Cultural Studies, University of Messina
    Department of Cognitive, Psychological, Pedagogical Sciences and Cultural Studies,
  • Monica Hernandez Lopez, Universidad de Jaen, Andalusia, Spain
    Departamento de Psicologia, Area de Psicologia Evolutiva y de la Educacion
  • Simona Migliorisi, “Kore” University of Enna,
    Faculty of Human and Social Sciences
  • Riccardo Granà, “Kore” University of Enna,
    Faculty of Human and Social Sciences

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Published

23-08-2017

Issue

Vol. 5 No. 2 (2017)

Section

Clinical Psychology

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