Abstract

The study, adopting the interpersonal perspective typical of the most recent studies on alexithymia, analyzes the association between parental alexithymia and perception of family relationships, focusing on marital self-efficacy and parental practices, also taking into account the gender differences between mothers and fathers. The TAS-20, the Perceived Marital Self-efficacy Scale and the Parenting Scale were filled by 148 couples of Italian parents (average age: mothers = 34.9 years, fathers = 37.4 years), of children aged between 9 and 36 months. The results show that higher levels of alexithymia are associated with a more frequent use of dysfunctional disciplinary practices and lower levels of marital self-efficacy. Marital self-efficacy mediates the relationship between alexithymia and parental practices. The implications of the study for parenting support interventions are discussed.