Perceived Parental Styles and Alexithymia in Adult Iranian Migraine Patients: The Mediating Role of Emotional Schemas

Abstract

Migraine, which is a highly prevalent headache, is often comorbid with alexithymia. Parental styles contribute to the development of alexithymia. The core psychological mechanisms that connect parenting to alexithymia and can be targeted in psychotherapy are not yet studied. The objective of this study was to explore the role of emotional schemas as a possible mediator between perceived parental styles and alexithymia in migraine patients. Study participants consisted of 208 (67 males and 141 females) Iranians who completed the Farsi version of Toronto Alexithymia Scale (FTAS-20), Leahy Emotional Schema Scale (LESS II), and Measure of Parental Styles (MOPS) online. For mediation analysis, structural equation modeling was used based on Baron and Kenny’s mediation model. The results demonstrated that mother overprotection and mother indifference were significantly related to alexithymia in migraine patients. Emotional schemas and alexithymia were also positively and significantly related. Additionally, mother overprotection and father indifference showed positive and significant covariation with emotional schemas. Data analysis with structural equation modeling revealed that emotional schemas partially mediate the relationship between parental styles and alexithymia in migraine patients. The current study expands our knowledge of possible mechanisms that relate childhood experiences of being parented and alexithymia in migraine patients. Findings of this research imply psychological treatments can benefit from targeting emotional schemas in migraine patients with alexithymia.

Keywords:

• Perceived parental styles
• emotional schemas
• alexithymia
• migraine

Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available because permission was not obtained from participants to share their data publicly but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Ethics approval and consent to participate

This research was approved by the Psychology Department, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Iran. The participants were informed about the purpose of the study and their participation was voluntary.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any funding from public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Bessat Kalantar Hormozi

Bessat Kalantar Hormozi, M.A in Clinical Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. Research interests: psychopathology, personality and cognitive development.Azadeh Tavoli, Assistant Professor at the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. Research areas: social anxiety, depression, psychopathology, quality of life, and mental health, health psychology, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Abbas Abdollahi, Assistant Professor at the Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran. Research areas: resilience, hardiness, emotional intelligence, perceived stress, perfectionism, suicidal ideation, and self-compassion.