» Articles » PMID: 36582426

Alexithymia and Parental Bonding in Women with Genitopelvic Pain/Penetration Disorder

Overview
Publisher Dove Medical Press
Specialty Psychiatry
Date 2022 Dec 30
PMID 36582426
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Objective: The role of emotion regulation and alexithymia in the pathophysiology of genitopelvic pain/penetration disorder (GPPPD) is emphasized. Parental bonding is linked to emotion regulation and alexithymia. This study aimed to examine the relationships between parental bonding, alexithymia, and GPPPD.

Patients And Methods: Sixty-four patients with GPPPD were enrolled in the study, and 60 controls were matched for demographic features. Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) was used to evaluate alexithymia, the Bonding to Parents Scale (BPS) was used to assess parental bonding, and sexual functions were assessed via Golombok-Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS).

Results: The rate of alexithymic traits was statistically higher in the GPPPD group than in the controls ( = 0.005). Patients with GPPPD obtained higher scores on the maternal care/control ( = 0.003) and maternal overprotection ( = 0.008) compared to controls. Difficulty describing feelings factor of alexithymia ( = 0.012) emerged as a predictor of group membership (GPPPD vs controls). To test whether alexithymia was significantly associated with parental bonding, all subjects were divided into two subgroups, alexithymic and non-alexithymic. When the subgroups were compared in terms of parental attitudes, maternal ( = 0.034) and paternal ( = 0.006) overprotection subscale scores were higher in the alexithymic group than in the non-alexithymic group.

Discussion: According to the results, alexithymic traits are characteristic of patients with GPPPD; however, although patients with GPPPD may experience difficulties with perceived parental bonding, this factor does not appear to be a predictor of GPPPD.

Citing Articles

Mental Imagery in the Relationship between Alexithymia and Parental Psychological Control.

Wang Z, Yang Z Behav Sci (Basel). 2024; 14(3).

PMID: 38540486 PMC: 10968067. DOI: 10.3390/bs14030183.

References
1.
Rokita K, Dauvermann M, Mothersill D, Holleran L, Holland J, Costello L . Childhood trauma, parental bonding, and social cognition in patients with schizophrenia and healthy adults. J Clin Psychol. 2020; 77(1):241-253. DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23023. View

2.
Ciocca G, Limoncin E, Di Tommaso S, Gravina G, Di Sante S, Carosa E . Alexithymia and vaginismus: a preliminary correlation perspective. Int J Impot Res. 2013; 25(3):113-6. DOI: 10.1038/ijir.2013.5. View

3.
Bargiota A, Dimitropoulos K, Mouzas O, Melekos M, Tzortzis V, Koukoulis G . The impact of parental bonding on sexual distress in women with type 1 diabetes mellitus. J Sex Med. 2012; 10(2):378-85. DOI: 10.1111/j.1743-6109.2012.02969.x. View

4.
Benoit-Piau J, Bergeron S, Brassard A, Dumoulin C, Khalife S, Waddell G . Fear-avoidance and Pelvic Floor Muscle Function are Associated With Pain Intensity in Women With Vulvodynia. Clin J Pain. 2018; 34(9):804-810. DOI: 10.1097/AJP.0000000000000604. View

5.
Murphy E, Brewin C, Silka L . The assessment of parenting using the parental bonding instrument: two or three factors?. Psychol Med. 1997; 27(2):333-41. DOI: 10.1017/s0033291796004606. View