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Parental bonding and alexithymia: A meta-analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

F.A. Thorberg ,
R.McD. Young ,
K.A. Sullivan  and
M. Lyvers
F.A. Thorberg*
Affiliation:
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia Centre for Youth Substance Abuse Research, Faculty of Health, The University of Queensland, Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
R.McD. Young
Affiliation:
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia
K.A. Sullivan
Affiliation:
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland 4059, Australia School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
M. Lyvers
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, Bond University, Queensland, Gold Coast, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +61 7 3138 6161; fax: +61 7 3138 6039. E-mail address: f.thorberg@qut.edu.au (F.A. Thorberg).
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Abstract

Aim

The primary purpose of this meta-analysis was to explore, clarify and report the strength of the relationship between alexithymia, as measured by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and parenting style as measured by the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI).

Methods

Web of Science, PsycInfo, PubMed and ProQuest: Dissertations and Theses searches were undertaken, yielding nine samples with sufficient data to be included in the meta-analysis.

Results

Evidence indicated moderate to strong relationships between maternal care and alexithymia, and between maternal care and two of the three TAS-20 alexithymia facets (Difficulties Describing Feelings and Difficulties Identifying Feelings, but not Externally Oriented Thinking). Moderate relationships were observed for both maternal- and paternal-overprotection and alexithymia respectively, and for overprotection (both maternal and paternal) and Difficulties Describing Feelings.

Conclusion

This study is the first meta-analysis of the relationship between parenting styles and alexithymia, and findings confirm an especially strong association between maternal care and key elements of alexithymia. This review highlights the issues that still remain to be addressed in exploring the link between parenting style and alexithymia.

Keywords

Parental bondingParenting styleAlexithymiaMeta-analysisReviewAffect dysregulation
Type
Review
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , April 2011 , pp. 187 - 193
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2011

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