Impact of Parental Bonding on Alexithymia and Psychological Distress among Pakistani Adolescents

Abstract

Aim: This study explored the relationship between parental bonding, alexithymia, and psychological distress among Pakistani adolescents. Methods: This was a quantitative research and data was obtained from a sample of 350 adolescents from different school colleges and universities of Pakistan. The cross-sectional research design was used in the current study. Three scales; Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS-21) were used to measure the variables. Pearson- product moment correlation and regression analysis were computed using SPSS version 21. Results: The study found a positive relationship between parental bonding (authoritarianism, protectiveness), alexithymia and psychological distress among adolescents. Conclusion: Poor parental bonding leads to alexithymia and psychological distress among Pakistani adolescents. This information is steady with the possibility that unfavourable nurturing and over security leads to poor personality traits (alexithymia) and also puts young people in danger for the improvement of psychological distress. Recommendations: Future researchers are recommended to incorporate adolescents of broken families to determine the relationship for more appropriate outcomes.