Adult attachment style and alexithymia Ornella Montebarocci a, *, Maurizio Codispoti b , Bruno Baldaro a , Nicola Rossi a a Department of Psychology, Viale Berti, Pichat n.5., University of Bologna, 40127 Bologna, Italy b Department of General Psychology, via Venezia 8, University of Padova, 35100 Padova, Italy Received 31 July 2002; received in revised form 1 December 2002; accepted 7 February 2003 Abstract The focus of the present study was to investigate the relationship between adult attachment behaviour and alexithymia. Adult attachment behaviour and alexithymic characteristics were assessed using ques- tionnaire methods. In a single session, 301 University students completed an Italian version of the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) and the Italian version of the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale. Moderate positive correlations were found among TAS total score and several ASQ subscales such as the Discomfort with Closeness (0.35), the Relationships as Secondary (0.38) and the Need for Approval (0.41). On the other hand, TAS total score and the Confidence subscale of the ASQ showed a moderate negative correlation (À0.45). These results provide interesting cues. Possible hypothetical explanations of this asso- ciation are discussed. Further longitudinal researches are needed to better investigate the relationship between the sociocultural environment, deficiencies in mother–child relationship and the ease of confidence in intimacy in adulthood. # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Keywords: Attachment Behaviour; Alexithymia characteristics; Family predictors 1. Introduction The aim of the present study is to investigate the relationship between adult attachment beha- viour and alexithymia. Adult attachment is the stable tendency of an individual to make sub- stantial efforts to seek and maintain proximity to and contact with one or a few specific individuals, who provide the subjective potential for physical and psychological safety and security. This stable tendency is regulated by internal working models of attachment, which are cognitive–affective–motivational schemata built from the individual’s experience in his or her 0191-8869/03/$ - see front matter # 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(03)00110-7 Personality and Individual Differences 36 (2004) 499–507 www.elsevier.com/locate/paid * Corresponding author. Tel.: +39-051-2091338; fax: +39-051-243086. E-mail address: omenteba@psibo.unibo.it (O. Montebarocci).