Positive Parenting Moderates the Association between Alexithymia and Aggression in Iranian Early Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study
International Journal of Applied Behavioral Sciences,
Vol. 13 No. 2 (2026),
18 August 2026
,
Page 1-10
https://doi.org/10.22037/ijabs.v13i2.50755
Abstract
Background and Aim: Aggression is a common behavioral problem during adolescence associated with difficulties in emotional processing. Alexithymia is linked to higher levels of aggression, while positive parenting practices may influence this relationship. This cross-sectional correlational study examined the moderating role of positive parenting practices in the association between alexithymia and aggression among adolescents.
Materials and Methods: Participants were 151 middle school students (aged 12–15 years) from Khorramabad, Iran, selected through multistage cluster sampling during the 2023–2024 academic year. Data were collected using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Anger and Aggression Scale, and the Alabama Parenting Questionnaire. Pearson correlation and hierarchical regression analyses were conducted using SPSS-26.
Results: Alexithymia was positively correlated with aggression (r = 0.603, p < .01), whereas positive parenting practices were negatively correlated with both alexithymia and aggression. Moderation analysis indicated that positive parenting practices significantly moderated the association between alexithymia and aggression (ΔR²=0.039, β=−0.205, p=.002). Higher levels of positive parenting were associated with a weaker relationship between alexithymia and aggression.
Conclusion: The findings suggest that positive parenting practices may buffer the association between alexithymia and aggression in adolescents. These results highlight the potential importance of supportive parenting environments in adolescent emotional and behavioral adjustment. Findings should be interpreted in light of the cross-sectional design and reliance on self-report measures.
- Aggression; Alexithymia; Adolescents; Parenting practices; Emotion regulation; Moderator; Cross-sectional study
How to Cite
References
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