Parental psychological control, alexithymia, loneliness, and social interaction anxiety disorder in college students

The incidence rate of social interaction anxiety disorder is increasing in college student populations. This study comprehensively considered the combined impact of parental psychological control, alexithymia, and loneliness on college students' social interaction anxiety disorder. We administered four self-report scales to 927 participants recruited from three universities in Liaoning Province, China. The results revealed that parental psychological control was a significant predictor of social interaction anxiety disorder among college students. Further, alexithymia and loneliness functioned as both independent and chain mediators of the relationship between parental psychological control and social interaction anxiety disorder. The findings of our study extend previous research and have important implications for the prevention and treatment of social interaction anxiety disorder in university students.