Examining Incremental Validity of Dimensions of Alexithymia and Parental Psychological Control on Internalizing Symptoms of Youth Involved with the Juvenile Justice System

Youth involved with the juvenile justice system are at an increased risk for developing internalizing symptoms. In accordance with ecological systems theory and Self‐Determination Theory, parental psychological control and emotion-related constructs, such as alexithymia (or difficulty processing emotions), are linked to internalizing symptoms. The present study aimed to provide preliminary evidence of these associations in a sample of youth in juvenile detention centers, by examining the unique variance accounted for by alexithymia total score and the dimensions of alexithymia (i.e., difficulties identifying feelings; difficulties communicating feelings) on anxiety and depression symptoms over and above the variance accounted for by psychological control. The sample included 111 youth (Mage = 15.5, SD = 1.38) in a juvenile detention facility in the Midwest. Multivariate linear regression models tested incremental validity to determine if the unique variance in the internalizing symptoms can be attributed to the addition of alexithymia constructs. Results showed that psychological control continued to be associated with depression symptoms, even after alexithymia total score and dimensions of alexithymia were added to the model. However, the link between psychological control and anxiety symptoms was attenuated when alexithymia constructs were added to the models. Alexithymia total score and difficulties identifying feels were significantly associated with internalizing symptoms and the addition of these constructs accounted for unique variance in the outcomes. Difficulties communicating feelings was not associated with internalizing symptoms. Findings provide evidence that alexithymia and dimensions of alexithymia are associated with internalizing symptoms even when controlling for variance attributed to psychological control.