Alexithymia, Attachment and Fear of Intimacy in Young Adults

Authors: Michael Lyvers, Bond University, Australia
Siobhan Davis, Bond University, Australia
Mark S. Edwards, York St. John University, United Kingdom
Fred Arne Thorberg, National Centre for Dual Diagnosis, Innlandet Hospital Trust, Norway
Email: mlyvers@bond.edu.au
Published: December 14, 2017
https://doi.org/10.22492/ijpbs.3.2.01

Citation: Lyvers, M., Davis, S., Edwards, M. S., Thorberg, F. A. (2017). Alexithymia, Attachment and Fear of Intimacy in Young Adults. IAFOR Journal of Psychology & the Behavioral Sciences, 3(2). https://doi.org/10.22492/ijpbs.3.2.01


Abstract

The present study explored the relationship between alexithymia and adult attachment. There were 100 participants aged 18–30 years (63 females) who completed the following questionnaires: demographics, Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), Fear of Intimacy Scale (FIS), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20 (TAS-20). Findings revealed predicted associations of TAS-20 alexithymia scores with insecure attachment as assessed by RAAS (i.e., lower scores on Close and Depend, and higher scores on Anxiety), fear of intimacy as assessed by FIS, and the DASS-21 index of negative mood. After controlling for age, gender and negative mood, fear of intimacy mediated the association of alexithymia with insecure attachment. Limitations of the study and implications of the findings are discussed.

Keywords

personality, attachment, intimacy, emotions

Acknowledgement

This research was funded by a Bond University Category 2 research grant.


Correction

On January 3, 2017, the PDF for Volume 3 Issue 2 was republished to correct an error with a missing author’s name.

In the previous version of the issue, the name of one of the authors, Siobhan Davis, Bond University, Australia, of the article entitled "Alexithymia, Attachment and Fear of Intimacy in Young Adults" was erroneously omitted.


On January 9, 2017, the PDF for Volume 3 Issue 2 was republished to correct an error with an incorrect author's affiliation.

In the previous version of the issue, part of the affiliation of one of the authors, Fred Arne Thorberg, National Centre for Dual Diagnosis, Innlandet Hospital Trust, of the article entitled "Alexithymia, Attachment and Fear of Intimacy in Young Adults" was erroneously omitted.