KMAN Publication Inc. (KMANPUB) Journal of Adolescent and Youth Psychological Studies (JAYPS) 2981-2526 7 Serial Number 47 2026 07 10 Childhood Emotional Neglect and Substance Misuse among Emerging Adults: The Mediating Roles of Alexithymia, Experiential Avoidance, and Loneliness Childhood Emotional Neglect and Substance Misuse among Emerging Adults: The Mediating Roles of Alexithymia, Experiential Avoidance, and Loneliness 1 11 10.61838/ EN Journal Article 2025 12 15 <table> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Objective:</strong> This study aimed to examine the relationship between childhood emotional neglect and substance misuse among Nigerian emerging adults and to determine whether alexithymia, experiential avoidance, and loneliness mediated this relationship.</p> <p><strong>Methods and Materials:</strong> This cross-sectional correlational study was conducted with 412 emerging adults aged 18 to 29 years who were recruited from universities, vocational institutions, youth organizations, and community settings in Nigeria. Participants completed the Emotional Neglect subscale of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire–Short Form, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire–II, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, and the Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine associations among the study variables. A parallel multiple-mediation analysis was conducted using PROCESS Model 4 with 5,000 bootstrap resamples. Age, sex, educational enrolment, and current psychological treatment were entered as covariates.</p> <p><strong>Findings:</strong> Childhood emotional neglect significantly predicted alexithymia (β = .386, p &lt; .001), experiential avoidance (β = .355, p &lt; .001), and loneliness (β = .459, p &lt; .001). Alexithymia (β = .207, p &lt; .001), experiential avoidance (β = .171, p &lt; .001), and loneliness (β = .213, p &lt; .001) each significantly predicted substance misuse. The total effect of childhood emotional neglect on substance misuse was significant (B = 0.767, 95% CI [0.590, 0.944]). The direct effect remained significant after inclusion of the mediators (B = 0.280, 95% CI [0.123, 0.437]), indicating partial mediation. The total indirect effect was significant (B = 0.487, 95% CI [0.347, 0.647]). Significant specific indirect effects were observed through alexithymia (B = 0.163, 95% CI [0.089, 0.251]), experiential avoidance (B = 0.124, 95% CI [0.061, 0.205]), and loneliness (B = 0.200, 95% CI [0.119, 0.298]).</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Childhood emotional neglect was associated with greater substance misuse among Nigerian emerging adults both directly and indirectly through emotional-processing difficulties, avoidance-based coping, and loneliness. Interventions addressing emotional awareness, acceptance of distress, and social connectedness may help reduce substance-related risk in this population.</p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> https://www.journals.kmanpub.com/index.php/jayps/article/download/5660/11084