Coping, attachment style and resilience: The mediating role of alexithymia

Literature shows that the presence of an insecure attachment is at the root of a difficulty in affect regulation and of the implementation of dysfunctional coping and resilience strategies. Adult attachment perspective posits that individuals with secure attachment are engaged in adaptive coping strategies, because their internal working models support a self-efficacy in achieving goals through their behaviour. The aim of the study is to evaluate the relationships between alexithymia, adult attachment styles, coping and resilience strategies, in a group of 488 subjects (M = 248; F = 240) with ages ranging from 18 to 55 years (M = 34.9, SD = 12.52). The following instruments were used: the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20); the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE); the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ); and the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA). The data show that the secure adult attachment is positively associated with the ability to modulate affects, the correct use of coping strategies is correlated with resilience. The study underlines that the type of attachment styles (secure or insecure) and the ability to modulate feelings are closely associated.