Citation

Guzzo G, Pace U, Cascio VL, Craparo G, Schimmenti A. Child Indic. Res. 2014; 7(1): 141-153.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s12187-013-9206-6

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between bullying victimization, post-traumatic stress symptoms, and alexithymia. Self-report measures concerning bullying victimization, alexithymia, and post-traumatic stress symptoms were administered to 488 adolescents (52 % boys, 48 % girls) ages 16 to 17 attending high schools. Results show that the experience of being bullied is associated with post-traumatic stress symptoms. Moreover, alexithymia mediated the impact of bullying victimization on post-traumatic stress symptoms. Findings thus show that difficulties identifying and describing feelings combined with an externally oriented thinking, the core symptoms of alexithymia, can play a crucial role in linking bullying victimization with the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder among adolescents.

Language: en