The relationship between alexithymia, child abuse and academic achievement among male high school students

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship between alexithymia, child abuse and academic achievement. The research population consisted of 200 subjects who were selected from among high school students through multistage sampling method. To collect the data, Alexithymia Scale and Child Abuse Scale were used. Data was analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that alexithymia (r = -0.16), emotional abuse (r = -0.34) and emotional neglect (r = -0.20) were negatively related to academic achievement. Emotional neglect and difficulty identifying feelings were the best predictors for academic achievement in the students. The findings also indicated alexithymia and child abuse to be associated with academic achievement of students. These findings have important implications in education and mental health among the students.

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