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Late Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers and Psychological Distress Resulting from COVID-19. A Study on the Mediation Role of Alexithymia

Author

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  • Renata Tambelli

    (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Silvia Cimino

    (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Eleonora Marzilli

    (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Giulia Ballarotto

    (Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00186 Rome, Italy)

  • Luca Cerniglia

    (Faculty of Psychology, International Telematic University Uninettuno, 00186 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The scientific literature has shown the key role played by attachment to parents and peers and difficulties in recognizing, processing, and regulating emotions (i.e., alexithymia) in the (mal-)adaptive psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic during late adolescence. No study has yet explored the complex interplay between these variables. We recruited a sample of 454 late adolescents (Mage = 22.79, SD = 2.27) and assessed attachment to parents and peers, alexithymia, and peritraumatic distress due to COVID-19 through self-report instruments. Attachment to fathers and peers, but not to mothers, and alexithymia significantly predicted levels of peritraumatic distress. Alexithymia fully and partially mediated the effect of, respectively, attachment to mothers and attachment to peers on peritraumatic distress due to COVID-19. These findings suggested that intervention programs focused on the promotion of peer social relationships, supportive parent–adolescent relationships, and the ability to recognize and discriminate one’s own and others’ emotions are needed in helping late adolescents to face the current health emergency and preventing short- and long-term psychopathological consequences related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Suggested Citation

  • Renata Tambelli & Silvia Cimino & Eleonora Marzilli & Giulia Ballarotto & Luca Cerniglia, 2021. "Late Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers and Psychological Distress Resulting from COVID-19. A Study on the Mediation Role of Alexithymia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10649-:d:653720
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Giulia Ballarotto & Silvia Cimino, 2020. "Internet Addiction among Young Adult University Students: The Complex Interplay between Family Functioning, Impulsivity, Depression, and Anxiety," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, November.
    2. Giulia Ballarotto & Barbara Volpi & Renata Tambelli, 2021. "Adolescent Attachment to Parents and Peers and the Use of Instagram: The Mediation Role of Psychopathological Risk," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-13, April.
    3. Achraf Ammar & Hamdi Chtourou & Omar Boukhris & Khaled Trabelsi & Liwa Masmoudi & Michael Brach & Bassem Bouaziz & Ellen Bentlage & Daniella How & Mona Ahmed & Patrick Mueller & Notger Mueller & Hsen , 2020. "COVID-19 Home Confinement Negatively Impacts Social Participation and Life Satisfaction: A Worldwide Multicenter Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-17, August.
    4. Silvia Guarnieri & Martina Smorti & Franca Tani, 2015. "Attachment Relationships and Life Satisfaction During Emerging Adulthood," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 121(3), pages 833-847, April.
    5. Nóra Kerekes & Kourosh Bador & Anis Sfendla & Mohjat Belaatar & Abdennour El Mzadi & Vladimir Jovic & Rade Damjanovic & Maria Erlandsson & Hang Thi Minh Nguyen & Nguyet Thi Anh Nguyen & Scott F. Ulber, 2021. "Changes in Adolescents’ Psychosocial Functioning and Well-Being as a Consequence of Long-Term COVID-19 Restrictions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-22, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Silvia Cimino & Luca Cerniglia, 2021. "The Capacity to Be Alone Moderates Psychopathological Symptoms and Social Networks Use in Adolescents during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-9, October.
    2. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Renata Tambelli & Elena Trombini & Leonardo De Pascalis & Alessandra Babore & Carmen Trumello & Silvia Cimino, 2021. "The COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Impact on Families’ Mental Health: The Role Played by Parenting Stress, Parents’ Past Trauma, and Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-15, October.
    3. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Silvia Cimino & Renata Tambelli, 2022. "Internet Addiction among Young Adult University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Peritraumatic Distress, Attachment, and Alexithymia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-22, November.
    4. Barbara Forresi & Ludovica Giani & Simona Scaini & Giampaolo Nicolais & Marcella Caputi, 2023. "The Mediation of Care and Overprotection between Parent-Adolescent Conflicts and Adolescents’ Psychological Difficulties during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Which Role for Fathers?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-15, January.
    5. Elisa Mancinelli & Jian-Bin Li & Adriana Lis & Silvia Salcuni, 2021. "Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Reactive–Proactive Aggression: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-17, December.

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