Abstract
ABSTRACT 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.
Highlights
High prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among Chinese adolescence has been reported
Anxiety and emotional-behavioral problems mediate the relationship between alexithymia and dependency
The findings revealed that the variance inflation factor (VIF) of the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale (MASC), Depressive Experiences Questionnaire (DEQ), and TAS were less than 3 (1.31,1.40 and 1.41, respectively)
Summary
High prevalence of emotional and behavioral problems among Chinese adolescence has been reported. Related research shows that adolescents suffer from emotional-behavioral problems[2,3].The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) has been globally used to assess emotional and behavioral problems in children and adolescents[2,3]. Conduct problems in adolescents are a major public health problem due to their association with high rates of substance and alcohol abuse and criminal activity [4,5]. Adolescents with hyperactivity problem had more emotional and behavioral problems than adolescents of the healthy group, even emotion problem was associated with the severity of symptoms of hyperactivity problem[6,7]. Related research showed that late adolescent subjects with hyperactivity-problem comorbidity emotion problems [8]. Negative peer relationships have been significantly associated with internalizing and psychological problems, such as emotional problems [9]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
