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Attachment to Parents and Peers and Adolescent Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia

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Abstract

The current research aims to study the mediating role of alexithymia on the relationship between attachment to parents and peers and mental health problems in a sample of 242 non-referred adolescents. Participants completed the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and the Symptom Check List-90-R. Mediation analysis shows that alexithymia fully mediates the relations between attachment to peers and mental health problems in both adolescent males and females. Findings suggest the importance to identify promptly vulnerabilities and risks in order to create prevention and intervention programs aimed to foster positive attachment experiences and to support emotional regulation.

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  1. Department of Education, Psychology, Philosophy, Faculty of Human Studies, University of Cagliari, Via Is Mirrionis, 1, 09123, Cagliari, Italy

    Cristina Sechi, Laura Vismara & Loredana Lucarelli

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  1. Cristina Sechi
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  2. Laura Vismara
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  3. Loredana Lucarelli
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Correspondence to Laura Vismara.

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Sechi, C., Vismara, L. & Lucarelli, L. Attachment to Parents and Peers and Adolescent Mental Health: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia. Community Ment Health J 56, 894–905 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00553-3

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