Author: Kiran Afzal
Supervisor: Afsheen Masood, PhD
Degree: M.Sc
Year: 2014-2016
University: Institute of Applied Psychology, Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan
Abstract
The present research was conducted to investigate the relationship among attachment styles, family environment and alexithymia in university students. It was hypothesized that attachment styles (anxiety and avoidance) and family environment (cohesion, Expressiveness, Conflict, Active and recreational orientation, organization, independence, control, acceptance and caring) had relationship with alexithymia in university students. It was also hypothesized that attachment styles (anxiety and avoidance) and family environment (cohesion, Expressiveness, Conflict, Active and recreational orientation, organization, independence, control, acceptance and caring) were likely to predict alexithymia in university students. The sample for current research comprised of 170 students, including (n = 85) girls and (n = 85) boys with age range of 18-25 years. The participants were recruited from public sector universities of Lahore. The assessment measures were Adult Attachment Scale (AAS; Collins, 1996), Family Environment Scale (FES; Bhatia & Chaddha, 1993) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS; Bagby, Parker & Taylor, 1994) to access attachment styles, family environment and alexithymia respectively. Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression (stepwise) analysis were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that there was a positive relationship between attachment styles (anxiety and avoidance) and alexithymia in university students. And there was negative relationship between family environment (expressiveness, conflict and active recreational orientation) and alexithymia in university students. Attachment anxiety and expressiveness were found to be significant predictors of alexithymia in university students. The results of the present research would help in understanding how early attachment and family environment contribute their role in development of an alexithymia.
Keywords: Attachment Styles, Alexithymia, Family Environment.
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Corresponding Address: Department of Applied Psychology, University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. Email: chairperson@appsy.pu.edu.pk, Phone: 92-42-9231245
