Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies in the Relationship between Attachment Styles and Alexithymia

Subject Areas : روان درمانگری

Mohammad Ali Besharat ¹

1 - PhD University of Tehran

Received: 2015-06-01 Accepted : 2015-06-01 Published : 2013-09-23

Keywords: Cognition, emotion, attachment, coping strategy,

Abstract :

the aim of this study was to examine mediating effect of cognitive emotion regulation strategies in the relationship between secure, avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles, and alexithymia. A total of 256 volunteers (115 males, 141 females) participated in this study. All participants were asked to complete the Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI; Besharat, 2005, 2011), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (FTAS; Bagby, Parker, & Taylor, 1994), and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ; Garnefski & Kraaij, 2006). Secure attachment style had a significant negative relation with alexithymia, while avoidant and ambivalent attachment styles had significant positive relations with alexithymia. The results of regression analysis indicated that both adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies mediated the relationship between attachment styles and alexithymia. The secure and insecure attachment styles predicted changes of alexithymia through adaptive and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies in opposite directions. The results indicated a partial mediation of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between attachment styles and alexithymia.