The effects of family functioning on alexithymia among adolescents: The roles of friendship quality and school connectedness

While the negative consequences of alexithymia have been widely studied, few researches have delved into its influencing factors. The current study aimed to investigate how family functioning affects alexithymia among adolescents and the mediating roles of friendship quality and school connectedness in this relationship. A total of 585 participants aged 15 to 19 ( 80.8% of the 724 participants surveyed) were selected and measured using the following scales: Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Family Assessment Device, Friendship Quality Questionnaire, and School Connectedness Scale. Correlation analysis showed that alexithymia was negatively associated with friendship quality and school connectedness, but positively correlated with family dysfunction. Mediation analysis suggested that family dysfunction was a risk factor for alexithymia, and school connectedness mediated the relationship between family functioning and alexithymia. Moreover, friendship quality and school connectedness sequentially mediated the relationship between family functioning and alexithymia. These findings provide empirical evidence regarding the factors contributing to alexithymia in adolescents, with a particular focus on identifying risk and protective factors within family and school settings. This implies a potential perspective for interventions aimed at preventing the onset of alexithymia in individuals through their developmental stages.