An investigation of the relationship between the perceived parental acceptance and rejection and somatic symptoms on the basis of alexithymia and psychological adjustment

In this study, the relationship between parental acceptance and rejection, psychological adjustment, alexithymia and somatization have been examined. In this context, the relationship between the form of parental rejection and somatization, and the mediating role of alexithymia with certain personality traits have been evaluated. The sample of this study consists of 335 non-clinic volunteers from different age groups and professions. Parental Acceptance - Rejection Questionnaire – Adult Short Form (PARQ), Personality Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R) have been used to collect data. According to the findings; men were more prone to alexithymia and women were more prone to somatic symptoms. In addition, alexithymia, hostility / aggression and emotional unresponsiveness play a role in the relationship between hostility and aggression perceived by both parents and somatization. In the serial mediation analysis of the order and direction of the relationship of these variables, it was observed that emotional unresponsiveness and alexithymia had a mediating effect on the relationship between hostility / aggression and somatization perceived by the mother and father. Again, the relationship between hostility / aggression and somatization perceived by the mother and father has been found to have a mediating effect on emotional unresponsiveness and hostility / aggression. It was determined that hostility has a mediating effect on the relationship between hostility and aggression that perceived from mother and somatization.