Anxiety and emotional-behavioral problems of adolescents in China: evidence for a serial mediation model of alexithymia and dependency

High prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among Chinese adolescence has been reported. This study seeks to investigate the mediating effect of alexithymia and dependency on anxiety and emotional-behavioral problems among adolescents. The study population included 519 adolescents. The assessments included the completion of standardized scales such as the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale (MASC), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ), the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Independent-sample t-tests, bivariate correlation, and serial mediation analyses were performed using SPSS23.0. Bivariate analyses revealed that anxiety, emotional-behavioral problem, alexithymia, and dependency were positively correlated. Alexithymia and dependency play a significant role in mediating the effect of multidimensional anxiety on emotional-behavioral problems. The effects of the two mediating paths were 69.86% and 7.81% for indirect effect through alexithymia, dependency, and specific indirect effect by alexithymia and dependency was 12.33%. Anxiety and emotional-behavioral problems mediate the relationship between alexithymia and dependency.

Automated summary

The high prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among Chinese adolescents has been reported. This study investigates the mediating effect of alexithymia and dependency on anxiety and emotional-behavioral problems among adolescents. The findings show that alexithymia and dependency play a significant role in mediating the effect of multidimensional anxiety on emotional-behavioral problems, with indirect effects through alexithymia and dependency accounting for 69.86% and specific indirect effects by alexithymia and dependency at 12.33%. Anxiety and emotional-behavioral problems mediate the relationship between alexithymia and dependency.