Is there any relation between alexithymia in parents and children? Effects on children's quality of life

Abstract

Introduction. The study of alexithymia in children (especially in healthy children), contrary to adult populations, has not been studied extensively, despite its relevant relation to health and quality of life. The purpose of this study was to analyze, in healthy children, the relation between children's alexithymia and their parents' alexithymia, the relation between children's alexithymia and children's quality of life, as well as to understand whether this relation is mediated by parents' alexithymia. Method. Alexithymia and quality of life questionnaires were administered to children aged 8-12, and Alexithymia questionnaires were administered to their parents, father or mather who was the main care-takers. Correlational study. Means and standard deviations of the all variables were described. Pearson' correlations, t-tests, multiple linear regressions and mediation analysis using ordinary least squares multiple regression and Sobel test were employed. Results. Results indicated a significant relation between Alexithymia dimensions for children and parents (except for the externally oriented thinking dimension). Children's difficulty identifying feelings and difficulty describing feelings predict all their quality of life dimensions (except for physical well-being). Results further indicated that this relation was partially mediated by parent's difficulty describing feelings for some of the children's quality of life dimensions. Conclusion. These findings have important practical implications regarding the planning of educational school programs for children. Specifically, within an educational system according to competences, identification and emotional expression strategies should be incorporated for the enhancement of quality of life in children and the prevention of alexithymia and somatization problems in adults.