Late Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers and Psychological Distress Resulting from COVID-19. A Study on the Mediation Role of Alexithymia

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Giulia Ballarotto¹  Eleonora Marzilli¹  Renata Tambelli¹  Silvia Cimino¹  Luca Cerniglia² 

[1] Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy;Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, 00186 Rome, Italy;

关键词: late adolescence;    attachment;    alexithymia;    COVID-19;    peritraumatic distress;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijerph182010649

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

The scientific literature has shown the key role played by attachment to parents and peers and difficulties in recognizing, processing, and regulating emotions (i.e., alexithymia) in the (mal-)adaptive psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic during late adolescence. No study has yet explored the complex interplay between these variables. We recruited a sample of 454 late adolescents (Mage = 22.79, SD = 2.27) and assessed attachment to parents and peers, alexithymia, and peritraumatic distress due to COVID-19 through self-report instruments. Attachment to fathers and peers, but not to mothers, and alexithymia significantly predicted levels of peritraumatic distress. Alexithymia fully and partially mediated the effect of, respectively, attachment to mothers and attachment to peers on peritraumatic distress due to COVID-19. These findings suggested that intervention programs focused on the promotion of peer social relationships, supportive parent–adolescent relationships, and the ability to recognize and discriminate one’s own and others’ emotions are needed in helping late adolescents to face the current health emergency and preventing short- and long-term psychopathological consequences related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

【 授权许可】

Unknown