Structural Modeling of Identity Styles with Tendency to High-Risk Behaviors in Students: The Mediating Role of Alexithymia

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of alexithymia in the relationship of identity styles with the tendency to high-risk behaviors. Method: The present study was descriptive-correlational of structural equation modeling type. The population of this study included all undergraduate students of Poldokhtar Higher Education Center studying in the academic year 2021-2022. The statistical sample size, based on the rule of Kline, was determined equal to 230 people, which was performed by convenience sampling method and an online questionnaire. The instruments used in this study were the Toronto alexithymia scale, the Iranian adolescents' risk-taking scale, and the identity style inventory. All data analyses were performed using the SPSS-22 and AMOS-24 software. Results: The results showed that confused-avoidant and commitment identity styles directly affected the tendency to high-risk behaviors. Also, confused-avoidant and commitment identity styles, through alexithymia, indirectly affected the tendency to high-risk behaviors. Normative identity style had a direct effect on the tendency to high-risk behaviors and alexithymia, but the information-oriented identity style did not. In addition, alexithymia had directly affected the tendency to high-risk behaviors. Conclusion: Individuals with the commitment identity style will experience more positive emotions and regulate their emotions better, but individuals with a confused-avoidant identity style have a deficit in understanding, describing, and processing emotions, causing them to tend to high-risk behaviors (substance use, smoking, alcohol use, etc.). Therefore, it is suggested that by addressing the Iranian-Islamic identity, educational authorities guide the students toward the commitment identity style, and by teaching the students having the confused-avoidant identity style, reduce alexithymia in them to decrease their tendency to high-risk behaviors.