Reflective functioning and Alexithymia as mediators between attachment and psychopathology symptoms: cross-sectional evidence in a community sample

Nadia Barberis; Marco Cannavò; Danilo Calaresi; Valeria Verrastro

doi:10.1080/13548506.2022.2045331

Reflective functioning and Alexithymia as mediators between attachment and psychopathology symptoms: cross-sectional evidence in a community sample

Psychol Health Med. 2023 Jun;28(5):1251-1262. doi: 10.1080/13548506.2022.2045331. Epub 2022 Feb 22.

Authors

Nadia Barberis¹, Marco Cannavò¹, Danilo Calaresi², Valeria Verrastro¹

Affiliations

¹ Dipartimento Di Scienze Della Salute, Università Degli Studi Magna Graecia Di Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
² Dipartimento Di Medicina Clinica E Sperimentale, Università Degli Studi Di Messina, Messina, Italy.

PMID: 35193443
DOI: 10.1080/13548506.2022.2045331

Abstract

This study sought to examine the role of Reflective Functioning and Alexithymia as mediators in the association between Attachment and Psychopathology. Questionnaires were administered to 1099 adults aged between 18 and 30 years. Results showed relations between Attachment Anxiety, Reflective Functioning, Alexithymia and Psychopathology. Moreover, Alexithymia was a mediator between Attachment, Reflective Functioning and Psychopathology.Current results provided evidence of the role of both Reflective Functioning and Alexithymia in the relationship between Attachment and Psychopathology. Implications are discussed.

Keywords: Alexithymia; Attachment; psychopathology; reflective functioning.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Affective Symptoms*
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Humans
Object Attachment
Psychopathology
Young Adult