Objective: To explore the relationship and interaction mechanism among parental rearing
styles, alexithymia and interpersonal communication of college students. Methods: From December 2021
to January 2022, 245 students from a university in Yantai were measured with the Simplified Parental
Rearing Style, Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Interpersonal Communication Ability Questionnaire
(with informed consent). Results: (1) There was a significant negative correlation between interpersonal
skills and father’s rejection, mother’s rejection (r=-0.127, -0.144; p<0.05), and a significant positive
correlation between interpersonal skills and father’s emotional warmth, mother’s emotional warmth
(r=0.274, 0.231; p<0.01); Alexithymia was negatively correlated with father’s emotional warmth and
mother’s emotional warmth (r=-0.286, -0.262; p<0.01), and positively correlated with father’s rejection
and mother’s rejection (r=0.152, 0.168; p<0.01). There was a significant negative correlation between the
total score of interpersonal skills and the total score of alexithymia (r=-0.373; p<0.01). (2) Alexithymia
plays a completely mediating role between parents’ refusal and interpersonal competence; Alexithymia
plays a part of mediating role between father and mother’s emotional warmth and interpersonal
skills. Conclusion: Both father rejection and mother rejection can negatively predict college students’
interpersonal communication; Both father’s emotional warmth and mother’s emotional warmth can
positively predict college students’ interpersonal communication; Alexithymia plays a completely
mediating role between parents’ refusal and interpersonal communication; Alexithymia plays a part of
mediating role between father and mother’s emotional warmth and interpersonal communication.