Parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder in early adolescents: the mediating role of alexithymia
The aim of this study is to extend our knowledge of the possible association between (maternal and paternal) parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms in early adolescence by investigating the possible mediating role of alexithymia. A sample of Italian early adolescents (N =...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1511983/full |
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| author | Matteo Angelo Fabris Claudio Longobardi Elżbieta Zdankiewicz-Ścigala Dawid Konrad Ścigała |
| author_facet | Matteo Angelo Fabris Claudio Longobardi Elżbieta Zdankiewicz-Ścigala Dawid Konrad Ścigała |
| author_sort | Matteo Angelo Fabris |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The aim of this study is to extend our knowledge of the possible association between (maternal and paternal) parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms in early adolescence by investigating the possible mediating role of alexithymia. A sample of Italian early adolescents (N = 234; Mage: 11.86, SD = 0.93; 47% male) was recruited from several schools in northwestern Italy. Participants completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire that included information on experience of parental rejection, alexithymia, and GAD symptoms. Our results show an association between parental rejection (both maternal and paternal) and GAD symptoms. Furthermore, the data show that alexithymia tends to mediate the relationship between maternal/paternal rejection and GAD. In this sense, parental rejection is associated with an increase in alexithymic symptoms, which in turn is associated with an increase in GAD symptoms in early adolescents. Limitations of the research and practical implications are discussed. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e1ed4a42790345f59dbfebaaa4d3ce6b |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e1ed4a42790345f59dbfebaaa4d3ce6b2025-08-20T03:05:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-05-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15119831511983Parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder in early adolescents: the mediating role of alexithymiaMatteo Angelo Fabris0Claudio Longobardi1Elżbieta Zdankiewicz-Ścigala2Dawid Konrad Ścigała3Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, ItalyDepartment of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, ItalyFaculty of Psychology, SWPS University, Warsaw, PolandInstitute of Psychology, The Maria Grzegorzewska University, Warsaw, PolandThe aim of this study is to extend our knowledge of the possible association between (maternal and paternal) parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms in early adolescence by investigating the possible mediating role of alexithymia. A sample of Italian early adolescents (N = 234; Mage: 11.86, SD = 0.93; 47% male) was recruited from several schools in northwestern Italy. Participants completed an anonymous self-report questionnaire that included information on experience of parental rejection, alexithymia, and GAD symptoms. Our results show an association between parental rejection (both maternal and paternal) and GAD symptoms. Furthermore, the data show that alexithymia tends to mediate the relationship between maternal/paternal rejection and GAD. In this sense, parental rejection is associated with an increase in alexithymic symptoms, which in turn is associated with an increase in GAD symptoms in early adolescents. Limitations of the research and practical implications are discussed.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1511983/fullpaternal rejectiongeneralized anxiety disorderalexithymiaearly adolescencematernal rejection |
| spellingShingle | Matteo Angelo Fabris Claudio Longobardi Elżbieta Zdankiewicz-Ścigala Dawid Konrad Ścigała Parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder in early adolescents: the mediating role of alexithymia Frontiers in Psychology paternal rejection generalized anxiety disorder alexithymia early adolescence maternal rejection |
| title | Parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder in early adolescents: the mediating role of alexithymia |
| title_full | Parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder in early adolescents: the mediating role of alexithymia |
| title_fullStr | Parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder in early adolescents: the mediating role of alexithymia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder in early adolescents: the mediating role of alexithymia |
| title_short | Parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder in early adolescents: the mediating role of alexithymia |
| title_sort | parental rejection and generalized anxiety disorder in early adolescents the mediating role of alexithymia |
| topic | paternal rejection generalized anxiety disorder alexithymia early adolescence maternal rejection |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1511983/full |
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