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Alexithymia and family functioning in adolescence: a study on family clusters
Journal Title: PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE 
Author/s: Mimma Tafà, Luca Cerniglia, Giulia Ballarotto, Eleonora Marzilli, Michela Di Trani, Michela Erriu, Silvia Cimino 
Year:  2020 Issue: 2 Language: Italian 
Pages:  19 Pg. 52-70 FullText PDF:  286 KB
DOI:  10.3280/PDS2020-002003
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Several studies have stressed the importance of the ability to identify and describe emo-tions to psychological well-being in adolescence. However, fewer studies have investigated adolescents’ alexithymic difficulties in relation to family functioning. The aim of this study was to investigate the alexithymic difficulties of adolescents belonging to the general popula-tion, in relation to their family functioning, taking into account their psychopathological risk. The sample was composed of N = 314 families with adolescents. Adolescents filled out some self-report questionnaires for the evaluation of alexithymic difficulties and psychopathological risk and mothers, fathers and adolescents filled out a questionnaire for the evaluation of family functioning. In order to verify the presence of different family functioning, authors have con-ducted a cluster analysis, which identified four distinct profiles of family functioning. Then, covariance analysis was conducted, which showed greater somatization and hostility in ado-lescents with families that show less cohesion and flexibility and greater levels of enmeshment or disengagement. Moreover, adolescents belonging to these families reported more difficul-ties in describing emotions and more concrete thinking.
Keywords: Adolescence; family functioning; alexithymia; psychopathological risk.

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Mimma Tafà, Luca Cerniglia, Giulia Ballarotto, Eleonora Marzilli, Michela Di Trani, Michela Erriu, Silvia Cimino, Alexithymia and family functioning in adolescence: a study on family clusters in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 2/2020, pp. 52-70, DOI:10.3280/PDS2020-002003

   

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