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Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Reactive–Proactive Aggression: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia

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  • Elisa Mancinelli

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy
    Digital Health Lab, Centre for Digital Health and Wellbeing, Fondazione Bruno Kessler, 38123 Trento, Italy)

  • Jian-Bin Li

    (Department of Early Childhood Education, The Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Adriana Lis

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy)

  • Silvia Salcuni

    (Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, 35131 Padua, Italy)

Abstract

Aggressive behaviors can serve different functions, which might be understood by distinguishing between reactive (RA) and proactive (PA) aggression. Few studies were conducted on adolescents’ family precursors and emotional processes associated with RA or PA. Accordingly, the current study compared RA and PA by evaluating their association with adolescents’ attachment to parents and alexithymia. N = 453 Italian adolescents aged 15–19 years (Mage = 16.48; SD = 0.69; 33.6% males) participated in the study filling in self-report measures. Results showed that PA and RA are significantly associated and that PA was higher among males. Moreover, four mediational models were performed to assess the influence of adolescents’ attachment to mothers vs. fathers on RA or PA, considering the mediating role of alexithymia. Gender was included as a covariate. Mediational models’ results showed a direct and indirect effect, through lower alexithymia, of adolescents’ attachment to mothers and fathers on RA. Differently, only attachment to mothers showed a direct effect on PA, while attachment to fathers only an indirect effect, mediated by lower alexithymia, on PA was shown. Findings support the greater relevance of emotional processes for RA while highlighting the differential contribution of adolescents’ attachment to mothers vs. fathers upon PA. Implications are discussed, and suggestions for future research are provided.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:24:p:13363-:d:705801
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elisa Mancinelli & Hanna D. Liberska & Jian-Bin Li & José P. Espada & Elisa Delvecchio & Claudia Mazzeschi & Adriana Lis & Silvia Salcuni, 2021. "A Cross-Cultural Study on Attachment and Adjustment Difficulties in Adolescence: The Mediating Role of Self-Control in Italy, Spain, China, and Poland," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-19, August.
    2. 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.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alessandra Santona & Alberto Milesi & Giacomo Tognasso & Laura Gorla & Laura Parolin, 2022. "Anxiety in Attachment and Sexual Relationships in Adolescence: A Moderated Mediation Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-11, March.
    2. Rui Zhang & Lin-Xin Wang & Jesus Alfonso D. Datu & Yue Liang & Kai Dou & Yan-Gang Nie & Jian-Bin Li, 2023. "High Qualities of Relationships with Parents and Teachers Contribute to the Development of Adolescent Life Satisfaction Through Resilience: A Three-Wave Prospective Longitudinal Study," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 24(4), pages 1339-1365, April.

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