Cyndi Boisjoli
PhD student in Psychology
Université du Québec à Montréal
Award-winning publication: A mediational model linking perceptions of security, alexithymia and behavior problems of sexually abused children
Published in: Child Abuse & Neglect
Abstract
Cyndi Boisjoli’s research delves into the perception of attachment security as it relates to alexithymia—the inability to identify and describe emotions—in sexually abused children between the ages of 6 and 12. The findings reveal that children who report having a secure relationship with a parent experience decreased alexithymia and fewer behavioural problems as compared to children who feel less secure in their parental relationships. Distinct analyses of each parent underscore how the father-child relationship reduces alexithymia-related problem behaviours, and the results thus affirm the relevance of targeting the father-child relationship and alexithymia in interventions for child victims.