Mental Imagery in the Relationship between Alexithymia and Parental Psychological Control.

Journal: Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)

Volume: 14

Issue: 3

Year of Publication: 

Affiliated Institutions:  Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, South China Normal University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou , China.

Abstract summary 

This study aims to explore the mediating role of mental imagery in the relationship between alexithymia and parental psychological control among Chinese university students. Conducted between March and April 2023, this descriptive study involved 282 volunteer participants from a university in southern China. Data collection included the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), the Parental Psychological Control Scale (PPC), and the Vividness of Visual Mental Imagery questionnaire (VVIQ). The results revealed that: (1) based on established cut-off, 81 students were identified as highly alexithymic; (2) the alexithymia group scored higher on both the TAS and PPC and lower on the VVIQ compared to the non-alexithymia and possible-alexithymia groups; and (3) mediating analysis demonstrated a strong and positive correlation between parental psychological control and alexithymia for all participants, with visual mental imagery mediating this relationship. This study underscores the interconnectedness of parental psychological control, visual mental imagery, and alexithymia among college students. The theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are also discussed.

Authors & Co-authors:  Wang Yang

Study Outcome 

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Statistics
Citations :  Nemiah J.C., Sifneos P.E. Psychosomatic illness: A problem in communication. Psychother. Psychosom. 1970;18:154–160. doi: 10.1159/000286074.
Authors :  2
Identifiers
Doi : 183
SSN : 2076-328X
Study Population
Male,Female
Mesh Terms
Other Terms
alexithymia;mediation analysis;parental psychological control;visual mental imagery
Study Design
Descriptive Study
Study Approach
Country of Study
Publication Country
Switzerland