Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in:

30-03-2022 | Original Paper

Alexithymia in a Self Determination Theory Framework: The interplay of Psychological Basic Needs, Parental Autonomy Support and Psychological Control

Auteurs: Nadia Barberis, Marco Cannavò, Francesca Cuzzocrea, Valeria Verrastro

Gepubliceerd in: Journal of Child and Family Studies | Uitgave 9/2023

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Researchers have become increasingly interested in deepening their understanding of the role of social environments in alexithymia—a difficulty in identifying one’s and others’ emotions—suggesting the importance of an in-depth study of the interplay with perceived parental practices. Drawing on the self-determination theory (SDT) framework, the current study sought to test a model in which the relationship between young adults’ perceptions of autonomy support and psychological support and alexithymia, was mediated by the satisfaction and the frustration of psychological basic needs. Questionnaires were administered to 205 young adults aged between 18 and 30 years, of Italian nationality (54% students) and currently living with parents to measure autonomy support, psychological control, basic psychological needs and alexithymia. The findings confirmed that higher alexithymia was associated with lower need satisfaction and higher need frustration. The results of this study showed that the model was consistent with the hypothesised mediating role for need satisfaction and need frustration in the relationship between parental practices and alexithymia. Specifically, need satisfaction has shown a mediation role in the relation between maternal support and alexithymia, whilst need frustration has shown a mediation role in the relation between maternal and paternal supportive parenting and alexithymia. The results of the present study highlighted that perceived dysfunctional parental practices are significantly associated with poorer self- and other-awareness of emotions. The implications of the findings and detailed information on the study implications for further empirical investigations and clinical interventions are discussed.
Literatuur
go back to reference Ahmad, I., Vansteenkiste, M., & Soenens, B. (2013). The relations of arab jordanian adolescents’ perceived maternal parenting to teacher-rated adjustment and problems: the intervening role of perceived need satisfaction. Developmental Psychology, 49(1), 177–183. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0027837.CrossRefPubMed Ahmad, I., Vansteenkiste, M., & Soenens, B. (2013). The relations of arab jordanian adolescents’ perceived maternal parenting to teacher-rated adjustment and problems: the intervening role of perceived need satisfaction. Developmental Psychology, 49(1), 177–183. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1037/​a0027837.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Barber, B. K., & Harmon, E. L. (2002). Violating the self: Parental psychological control of children and adolescents. In B. K. Barber (Ed.), Intrusive parenting: How psychological control affects children and adolescents (pp. 15–52). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Barber, B. K., & Harmon, E. L. (2002). Violating the self: Parental psychological control of children and adolescents. In B. K. Barber (Ed.), Intrusive parenting: How psychological control affects children and adolescents (pp. 15–52). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
go back to reference Baumrind, D., Thompson, A. R. (2002). The Ethics of Parenting, In M. Bornstein (Ed.), Handbook of Parenting, 5, (pp. 3-487). New York, NY: Routledge. Baumrind, D., Thompson, A. R. (2002). The Ethics of Parenting, In M. Bornstein (Ed.), Handbook of Parenting, 5, (pp. 3-487). New York, NY: Routledge.
go back to reference Bornstein, M. H. (2015). Children and their parents. In M. H. Bornstein & T. Leventhal (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology and developmental science: Vol. 4. Ecological settings and processes (7th ed., pp. 55–132). New York, NY: John Wiley. Bornstein, M. H. (2015). Children and their parents. In M. H. Bornstein & T. Leventhal (Eds.), Handbook of child psychology and developmental science: Vol. 4. Ecological settings and processes (7th ed., pp. 55–132). New York, NY: John Wiley.
go back to reference Costa, S., Cuzzocrea, F., Gugliandolo, M. C., & Larcan, R. (2015). Associations between parental psychological control and autonomy support, and psychological outcomes in adolescents: the mediating role of need satisfaction and need frustration. Child Indicators Research, 9(4), 1059–1076. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12187-015-9353-z.CrossRef Costa, S., Cuzzocrea, F., Gugliandolo, M. C., & Larcan, R. (2015). Associations between parental psychological control and autonomy support, and psychological outcomes in adolescents: the mediating role of need satisfaction and need frustration. Child Indicators Research, 9(4), 1059–1076. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s12187-015-9353-z.CrossRef
go back to reference Costa, S., Soenens, B., Gugliandolo, M. C., Cuzzocrea, F., & Larcan, R. (2014b). The mediating role of experiences of need satisfaction in associations between parental psychological control and internalizing problems: a study among italian college students. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(4), 1106–1116. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-014-9919-2.CrossRef Costa, S., Soenens, B., Gugliandolo, M. C., Cuzzocrea, F., & Larcan, R. (2014b). The mediating role of experiences of need satisfaction in associations between parental psychological control and internalizing problems: a study among italian college students. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 24(4), 1106–1116. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10826-014-9919-2.CrossRef
go back to reference Cuzzocrea, F., Costa, S., Cannavò, M., & Gugliandolo, M. C. (2020). Preliminary development and psychometrics characteristics of a multidimensional measure of parental psychological control: the Inventory of Parental Psychological Control (IPPC). Maltrattamento e abuso all’infanzia, 2, 55–84. https://doi.org/10.3280/mal2020-002004.CrossRef Cuzzocrea, F., Costa, S., Cannavò, M., & Gugliandolo, M. C. (2020). Preliminary development and psychometrics characteristics of a multidimensional measure of parental psychological control: the Inventory of Parental Psychological Control (IPPC). Maltrattamento e abuso all’infanzia, 2, 55–84. https://​doi.​org/​10.​3280/​mal2020-002004.CrossRef
go back to reference Gatti, E., Corsano, P., Majorano, M., & Confalonieri, E. (2013). Body perception and self-esteem: a comparison between pre-adolescents in northern and southern Italy. Clinical Developmental Psychology, 17, 123–134. Gatti, E., Corsano, P., Majorano, M., & Confalonieri, E. (2013). Body perception and self-esteem: a comparison between pre-adolescents in northern and southern Italy. Clinical Developmental Psychology, 17, 123–134.
go back to reference Hautmann, C., Eichelberger, I., Hanisch, C., Plück, J., Walter, D., & Döpfner, M. (2015). Association between parental emotional symptoms and child antisocial behaviour: What is specific and is it mediated by parenting? International Journal of Behavioral Development, 39(1), 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1177/0165025414535120.CrossRef Hautmann, C., Eichelberger, I., Hanisch, C., Plück, J., Walter, D., & Döpfner, M. (2015). Association between parental emotional symptoms and child antisocial behaviour: What is specific and is it mediated by parenting? International Journal of Behavioral Development, 39(1), 43–52. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1177/​0165025414535120​.CrossRef
go back to reference Kline, R. B. (2011). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. New York, NY: Guilford press. Kline, R. B. (2011). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling. New York, NY: Guilford press.
go back to reference Inguglia, C., Ingoglia, S., Liga, F., Lo Coco, A., Lo Cricchio, M. G., Musso, P., & Lim, H. J. (2015). Parenting dimensions and internalizing difficulties in Italian and U.S. emerging adults: The intervening role of autonomy and relatedness. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(2), 419–431. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-015-0228-1.CrossRef Inguglia, C., Ingoglia, S., Liga, F., Lo Coco, A., Lo Cricchio, M. G., Musso, P., & Lim, H. J. (2015). Parenting dimensions and internalizing difficulties in Italian and U.S. emerging adults: The intervening role of autonomy and relatedness. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(2), 419–431. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10826-015-0228-1.CrossRef
go back to reference Lamb, M. E. (2010). The role of the father in child development. New York, NY: John Wiley. Lamb, M. E. (2010). The role of the father in child development. New York, NY: John Wiley.
go back to reference Liga, F., Lo Coco, A., Musso, P., Inguglia, C., Costa, S., Lo Cricchio, M. G., & Ingoglia, S. (2018). Parental psychological control, autonomy support and Italian emerging adult’s psychosocial well-being: a cluster analytic approach. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 17(1), 37–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/17405629.2018.1532887.CrossRef Liga, F., Lo Coco, A., Musso, P., Inguglia, C., Costa, S., Lo Cricchio, M. G., & Ingoglia, S. (2018). Parental psychological control, autonomy support and Italian emerging adult’s psychosocial well-being: a cluster analytic approach. European Journal of Developmental Psychology, 17(1), 37–55. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1080/​17405629.​2018.​1532887.CrossRef
go back to reference Lu, M., Walsh, K., White, S., & Shield, P. (2017). The associations between perceived maternal psychological control and academic performance and academic self-concept in chinese adolescents: the mediating role of basic psychological needs. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26(5), 1285–1297. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0651-y.CrossRef Lu, M., Walsh, K., White, S., & Shield, P. (2017). The associations between perceived maternal psychological control and academic performance and academic self-concept in chinese adolescents: the mediating role of basic psychological needs. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 26(5), 1285–1297. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s10826-016-0651-y.CrossRef
go back to reference Robbins, R. R. (1994). An assessment of perceptions of parental autonomy support and control: Child and parent correlates. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Department of Psychology, University of Rochester. Robbins, R. R. (1994). An assessment of perceptions of parental autonomy support and control: Child and parent correlates. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Department of Psychology, University of Rochester.
go back to reference Ryan, R. M., Deci, E. L., Grolnick, W. S., & La Guardia, J. G. (2006). The significance of autonomy and autonomy support in psychological development and psychopathology. In D. Cicchetti & D. Cohen (Eds.), Developmental psychopathology (Theory and methods) (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 795–849). New York, NY: John Wiley. Ryan, R. M., Deci, E. L., Grolnick, W. S., & La Guardia, J. G. (2006). The significance of autonomy and autonomy support in psychological development and psychopathology. In D. Cicchetti & D. Cohen (Eds.), Developmental psychopathology (Theory and methods) (2nd ed., Vol. 1, pp. 795–849). New York, NY: John Wiley.
go back to reference Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness. New York, NY: Guilford Press. Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2017). Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development, and wellness. New York, NY: Guilford Press.
go back to reference Scimeca, G., Bruno, A., Cava, L., Pandolfo, G., Muscatello, M. R. A., & Zoccali, R. (2014). The relationship between alexithymia, anxiety, depression, and internet addiction severity in a sample of italian high school students. The Scientific World Journal, 2014, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/504376.CrossRef Scimeca, G., Bruno, A., Cava, L., Pandolfo, G., Muscatello, M. R. A., & Zoccali, R. (2014). The relationship between alexithymia, anxiety, depression, and internet addiction severity in a sample of italian high school students. The Scientific World Journal, 2014, 1–8. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1155/​2014/​504376.CrossRef
Metagegevens
Titel
Alexithymia in a Self Determination Theory Framework: The interplay of Psychological Basic Needs, Parental Autonomy Support and Psychological Control
Auteurs
Nadia Barberis
Marco Cannavò
Francesca Cuzzocrea
Valeria Verrastro
Publicatiedatum
30-03-2022
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Journal of Child and Family Studies / Uitgave 9/2023
Print ISSN: 1062-1024
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2843
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-022-02303-3