Relationship of Parental Alexithymia and Neglect with Healthy Children's Maladjustment in Families with and Without Autistic Children

Background: Family factors predict the incidence of developmental incompatibilities and psychological disorders. Moreover, having a child with autism can be an overwhelming experience for some families. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the role of neglect and alexithymia in parents with or without an autistic child on the maladjustment level of their healthy children. Methods: In this descriptive-correlational study, two groups of families with (n = 16) and without (n = 16) an autistic child in the cities of Zahedan and Birjand were selected by the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Child Abuse Questionnaire (self-report scale), and Rutter's Child Behavior Disorders Questionnaire (parent form), which were then analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and stepwise multiple regression test. Results: Significant results were obtained for specific and joint relationships between parental alexithymia and neglect and maladjustment of their healthy children (P = 0.041). However, the results obtained for the effect of the presence or absence of an autistic child in the family as a moderating variable were not significant (P = 0.556). Parental alexithymia had a significant positive correlation (R = 0.565, P = 0.001), and parental neglect had a significant negative correlation (R = -0.393, P = 0.029) with maladjustment of healthy children in the family. Conclusions: Neglect and alexithymia in parents specifically and jointly correlate significantly with their healthy child's maladjustment. However, the presence or absence of an autistic child in the family has no significant effect on this relationship. Parental alexithymia is a stronger predictor of the maladjustments of healthy children.