title: The relationship between attachment styles and alexithymia: mediating role of defense mechanisms.
abstract: This study examined the mediating role of ego defense mechanisms on the relationship between attachment styles and alexithymia. Four hundred and forty-three Iranian high school students (213 boys, 230 girls) participated in this study. Participants completed Defense Styles Questionnaire (DSQ-40), Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI), and Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (FTAS-20). Results showed a significant negative correlation between secure attachment style and alexithymia, while avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles showed significant positive associations with alexithymia. Regression analysis indicated that defense mechanisms have a mediating role between attachment styles and alexithymia. It can be concluded that a mediation role of ego defense mechanisms on the relationship between attachment styles and alexithymia was partial.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14155-6456, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: besharat@ut.ac.ir.
authors: Mohammad Ali
authors: MA
authors: Besharat
authors: Zeinab
authors: Z
authors: Khajavi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004532:Ego; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D010551:Personality; D013334:Students; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attachment; Emotion; Personality