Prediction of Alexithymia on the Basis of Attachment Style and Early Maladaptive Schemas in University Students

Objective: Alexithymia is recognized as a disability in explaining or understanding emotions and manifests at emotional and functional levels. This study was conducted with the aim of clarifying the role of early maladaptive schemas and attachment style in alexithymia disorder.  Methods: This research was a correlational study. In this study, 220 students of Tabriz University were selected by stratified random sampling. Then,The Toronto Alexithymia Scale questionnaire (TAS-20), Adult Attachment Questionnaire (AAQ) of Hazan and Shaver, and the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF) were conducted to them. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and simultaneous regression analysis. Statistical analysis were performed using the SPSS 20.  Results: The results showed that components of early maladaptive schemas, ‘Impaired Autonomy’ and ‘Over-vigilance’ and among attachment styles, avoidance could positively predict the alexithymia.  Conclusion: Accordingly, early maladaptive schemas and attachment style are essential to predict and treat people with alexithymia.