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Brain Sciences Nov 2023In the present study, we aimed to assess the frequency of and the relationships between alexithymia, burnout, and hopelessness in a large sample of healthcare workers...
In the present study, we aimed to assess the frequency of and the relationships between alexithymia, burnout, and hopelessness in a large sample of healthcare workers (HCWs) during the third wave of COVID-19 in Italy. Alexithymia was evaluated by the Italian version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and its subscales Difficulty in Identifying Feelings (DIF), Difficulty in Describing Feelings (DDF), and Externally Oriented Thinking (EOT), burnout was measured with the scales emotional exhaustion (EE), depersonalisation (DP), and personal accomplishment (PA) of the Maslach Burnout Test (MBI), hopelessness was measured using the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), and irritability (IRR), depression (DEP), and anxiety (ANX) were evaluated with the Italian version of the Irritability' Depression' Anxiety Scale (IDA). This cross-sectional study recruited a sample of 1445 HCWs from a large urban healthcare facility in Italy from 1 May to 31 June 2021. The comparison between individuals that were positive ( = 214, 14.8%) or not for alexithymia ( = 1231, 85.2%), controlling for age, gender, and working seniority, revealed that positive subjects showed higher scores on BHS, EE, DP IRR, DEP, ANX, DIF, DDF, and EOT and lower on PA than the not positive ones ( < 0.001). In the linear regression model, higher working seniority as well as higher EE, IRR, DEP, ANX, and DDF scores and lower PA were associated with higher hopelessness. In conclusion, increased hopelessness was associated with higher burnout and alexithymia. Comprehensive strategies should be implemented to support HCWs' mental health and mitigate the negative consequences of alexithymia, burnout, and hopelessness.
PubMed: 38002510
DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13111550 -
Child Abuse & Neglect Sep 2023The phenomenon of short-form video application addiction among Chinese adolescents is noteworthy. More research has focused on the influencing factors of internet...
BACKGROUND
The phenomenon of short-form video application addiction among Chinese adolescents is noteworthy. More research has focused on the influencing factors of internet addiction, but research on specifically exploring the antecedents and influencing mechanisms of short-form video application addiction (a subcategory of internet addiction) among adolescents is insufficient.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to investigate the relation between parental neglect and short-form video application addiction among Chinese adolescents and examine the mediating effect of alexithymia and the moderating role of refusal self-efficacy.
METHODS
A total of 1203 Chinese adolescents were assigned to complete scales regarding parental neglect, alexithymia, refusal self-efficacy and short-form video application addiction.
RESULTS
Parental neglect was positively related to short-form video application addiction among Chinese adolescents, and alexithymia mediated this link. Furthermore, refusal self-efficacy moderated the direct connection between parental neglect and short-form video application addiction. Specifically, the link between parental neglect and short-form video application addiction became weaker as adolescents' refusal self-efficacy increased.
CONCLUSION
The experiences of parental neglect are closely related to higher levels of short-form video application addiction among Chinese adolescents. Parental neglect is associated with higher level of short-form video application addiction through stronger alexithymia, and the relationship between parental neglect and short-form video application addiction is attenuated when adolescents have high refusal self-efficacy.
Topics: Adolescent; Humans; Affective Symptoms; Behavior, Addictive; East Asian People; Parents; Self Efficacy; Parenting; Internet Addiction Disorder; Video Recording
PubMed: 37451180
DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2023.106345 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Oct 2023The insula is considered to be involved in emotional cognitive processes, and may be structurally altered in people with alexithymia. However, it remains unclear how the...
BACKGROUND
The insula is considered to be involved in emotional cognitive processes, and may be structurally altered in people with alexithymia. However, it remains unclear how the relationship between the insula and alexithymia changes over time. This study aimed to investigate whether alexithymia has longitudinal relationship with the insular structure.
METHODS
Having processed structural MRI data via FreeSurfer, the insula was divided into five sub-regions, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale was administered to assess alexithymia in the general population. Subsequently, we established the latent change score models between insular sub-regions and the alexithymia (N = 252).
RESULTS
The TAS-20 mean value of the sample at Time 1 was not significantly different by sex (t = -0.993, df = 250, p = 0.321), while the TAS-20 mean value at Time 2 was slightly different by sex (t = 2.025, df = 250, p = 0.044). Most insular grey matter volumes at Time 1 and Time 2 were significantly associated with TAS-20 at Time 2. The baseline alexithymia and insular grey matter volume positively predicted the other's rate of change between Time 1 and Time 2 in a bidirectional way.
LIMITATIONS
This study had a limited number of measurement time points, potential bias due to smaller sample sizes and gender imbalance, as well as the potential for inaccuracy in the self-report measure of alexithymia.
CONCLUSIONS
Time-lagged alexithymia changes and insular grey matter volume changes occur in coupled manner over time, which might improve our understanding of the neurological underpinnings of alexithymia, and shed light on clinical and psychological treatment for alexithymia.
Topics: Humans; Gray Matter; Affective Symptoms; Longitudinal Studies; Cerebral Cortex; Magnetic Resonance Imaging
PubMed: 37442449
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.07.041 -
Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) Jan 2024Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) represents a complex pathology affecting a large number of people. Research suggests that psychological factors influence coping with...
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) represents a complex pathology affecting a large number of people. Research suggests that psychological factors influence coping with T1DM. This study aimed to investigate the presence and role of psychopathology, alexithymia and uncertainty in people affected by T1DM. The sample consisted of 137 patients (88 females, 49 males) affected by T1DM aged from 11 to 19 years old (Mean: 13.87; SD: 2.40). The diagnostic protocol consisted of a sociodemographic questionnaire, Self-administration Psychiatric Scales for Children and Adolescents (SAFA), Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20) and Intolerance to Uncertainty Scale-12 (IUS-12). Descriptive, differential, correlational and regression analyses were performed in order to examine the relationships between these variables. The results suggested the sample had high levels of psychopathological indexes, alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty. Also, there were significant differences between TAS-20 and IUS-12 distributions with respect to psychopathology. Correlations and multivariate linear regressions indicated age, gender and education significantly predicted alexithymia and intolerance of uncertainty. This data suggest the presence of elevated psychopathology, alexithymia and uncertainty in people with diabetes.
PubMed: 38275537
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12020257 -
Perceptual and Motor Skills Dec 2023Gradual and sustained increases in resting blood pressure are accompanied by gradual and sustained reductions in the capacity to consciously experience several affective...
Gradual and sustained increases in resting blood pressure are accompanied by gradual and sustained reductions in the capacity to consciously experience several affective and somatosensory processes. Burgeoning theory suggests that this phenomenon, termed cardiovascular emotional dampening, contributes to heart disease risk by interfering with our ability to effectively respond to environmental demands. Interpersonal relationships are contexts in which this risk cascade likely occurs, but prior researchers have paid little attention to how emotional dampening might influence these relationships. As empathy is a construct used to describe facets of emotion-linked responding that facilitate interpersonal relationships, if emotional dampening influences interpersonal relationships, then we might expect resting blood pressure to covary with measures of empathy as it does with other previously studied aspects of affective responding. We recruited 175 healthy undergraduate college student participants (120 Women; = 19.17, = 2.08) to complete a counterbalanced procedure in which we measured resting blood pressure and related it to participants' responses on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, the Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy, and a demographic survey. Bivariate comparisons revealed a significant inverse relationship between average resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) and cognitive empathy, as well as a significant inverse relationship between SBP and affective empathy. Multiple regression analyses revealed that SBP remained a significant predictor of cognitive empathy, but not affective empathy, after controlling for related covariates (i.e., sex, age, and alexithymia). SBP predicted cognitive empathy such that higher SBP was associated with lower cognitive empathy. Thus, people with higher resting blood pressures might experience increased interpersonal distress because of a reduced capacity for empathetic accuracy and perspective-taking. We discuss the implications and future directions of these findings.
Topics: Humans; Female; Young Adult; Adult; Child, Preschool; Empathy; Blood Pressure; Emotions; Affective Symptoms; Interpersonal Relations; Hypertension
PubMed: 37632294
DOI: 10.1177/00315125231197839 -
Heliyon Nov 2023Alexithymia and perceived stress have been recognized as risk factors for suicide in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, few studies have been...
INTRODUCTION
Alexithymia and perceived stress have been recognized as risk factors for suicide in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). However, few studies have been conducted to examine the relationship between these factors.
METHODS
A cross-sectional study was conducted on 105 MDD patients. Alexithymia was assessed by the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), perceived stress was assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), severity of depression was assessed by the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), and suicidal ideation was assessed by the self-report Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation (SSI). A sequential mediation model was established to test the mediating effects of perceived stress and severity of depression on the association between alexithymia and suicidal ideation.
RESULTS
81 of the 105 participants (77.14 %) had suicidal ideation. Patients with suicidal ideation had greater difficulty in identifying feelings (DIF) (p = 0.046), higher severity of depression (p = 0.005) and perceived stress (p = 0.003). DIF subscale score of TAS was associated with perceived stress (r = 0.292, p = 0.003), severity of depression (r = 0.349, p < 0.001) and suicidal ideation (r = 0.229, p = 0.012). Sequential mediation model showed that perceived stress and severity of depression mediated the effect of DIF on suicidal ideation.
CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that perceived stress and severity of depression fully mediate the relationship between difficulty in identifying feelings and suicidal ideation in MDD patients.
PubMed: 38027633
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21986 -
Journal of Affective Disorders Oct 2023The COVID-19 pandemic has been posing widespread influence on mental well-being. However, research on the dynamic relations between alcohol use and psychological...
Longitudinal patterns of alcohol use and psychological symptoms during COVID-19 pandemic and role of alexithymia: A latent transition analysis in the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.
BACKGROUND
The COVID-19 pandemic has been posing widespread influence on mental well-being. However, research on the dynamic relations between alcohol use and psychological symptoms in the context of the pandemic and the role of alexithymic traits in predicting the development of mental health problems longitudinally remains scarce.
METHODS
Latent profile and transition analyses were conducted to model the longitudinal patterns of transitions in the profiles of alcohol use and psychological symptoms across 10 months during the pandemic (from May 2020 to March 2021) and to investigate the role of alexithymia and its dimensions Difficulty Identifying and Describing Feelings (DIF and DDF), and Externally Oriented Thinking (EOT) in 720 parents from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study.
RESULTS
Three profiles, Risky Drinking, Distressed Non-Risky Drinking, and Non-Distressed, Non-Risky Drinking, and their transitions were identified. The role of alexithymia appeared to be stronger in Risky Drinking than Non-Distressed, Non-Risky Drinking. DIF predicted the development of symptoms in Risky Drinking, whereas DDF predicted Risky Drinking remaining stable over time and showed a trend towards psychological distress in Risky Drinking and Non-Distressed, Non-Risky Drinking. EOT was more likely to be a risk factor for Risky Drinking remaining constant and Non-Distressed, Non-Risky Drinking becoming Risky Drinking.
LIMITATIONS
This study was mainly limited by the generalizability of the findings.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings add deeper insights into the longitudinal development of alcohol use and psychological symptoms as well as evidence on the role of alexithymia in shaping mental health, providing implications for tailoring clinical preventive and therapeutic measures.
Topics: Humans; Affective Symptoms; Cohort Studies; Pandemics; COVID-19; Emotions
PubMed: 37385387
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.06.056 -
PloS One 2023Alexithymia can be associated with worse addictive traits, while emotional intelligence is associated with better addictive outcomes. In Lebanon, the prevalence of...
BACKGROUND
Alexithymia can be associated with worse addictive traits, while emotional intelligence is associated with better addictive outcomes. In Lebanon, the prevalence of cigarette and waterpipe smoking is on the rise, although people are aware of the associated harms. Also, around 11% of Lebanese adults have experienced alcohol use disorder (AUD). This study aimed to assess the association between alexithymia, emotional intelligence, smoking (cigarette and waterpipe), and AUD among a sample of Lebanese adults.
METHODS
A web-based cross-sectional study carried out between February and April 2020, during the lockdown period, enrolled 408 community-dwelling adults. The survey link was shared on social media to reach participants from all Lebanese districts/governorates.
RESULTS
Taking antidepressants (Beta = 4.37) was significantly associated with more cigarette dependence, while female gender (Beta = -1.52) and having a high vs. low monthly income (Beta = 1.02) were significantly associated with less cigarette dependence. None of the variables, including alexithymia, were significantly associated with waterpipe dependence. Female gender (Beta = -0.15) and higher emotional intelligence (Beta = -0.003) were significantly associated with less AUD, whereas higher alexithymia (Beta = 0.003) was significantly associated with more AUD.
CONCLUSION
This study could demonstrate a significant association between alexithymia and cigarette smoking and alexithymia and alcohol consumption. Future research is warranted to investigate the mediating effect of emotional intelligence and how these results may be used to meet the needs of alexithymic individuals with addictions.
Topics: Humans; Adult; Female; Alcoholism; Affective Symptoms; Cross-Sectional Studies; Alcohol Drinking; Cigarette Smoking; Emotional Intelligence; Lebanon
PubMed: 38033004
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295114 -
Journal of Oral Rehabilitation May 2024Patients with chronic headaches and chronic oro-facial pain commonly present psychosocial issues that can affect social interactions. A possible reason could be that... (Review)
Review
Facial recognition, laterality judgement, alexithymia and resulting central nervous system adaptations in chronic primary headache and facial pain-A systematic review and meta-analysis.
INTRODUCTION
Patients with chronic headaches and chronic oro-facial pain commonly present psychosocial issues that can affect social interactions. A possible reason could be that patients with these disorders might present impairments in facial recognition, laterality judgement and also alexithymia. However, a systematic review summarizing the effects of facial emotion recognition, laterality judgement and alexithymia in individuals with headaches and oro-facial pain is still not available.
AIM
The main objective of this systematic review (SR) and meta-analysis (MA) was to compile and synthesize the evidence on the occurrence of alexithymia, deficits in laterality or left-right (LR) recognition and/or facial emotion recognition (FER) in patients with chronic headache and facial pain.
METHODS
Electronic searches were conducted in five databases (up to September 2023) and a manual search to identify relevant studies. The outcomes of interest were alexithymia scores, speed and accuracy in LR and/or FER, or any other quantitative data assessing body image distortions. The screening process, data extraction, risk of bias and data analysis were performed by two independent assessors following standards for systematic reviews.
RESULTS
From 1395 manuscripts found, only 34 studies met the criteria. The overall quality/certainty of the evidence was very low. Although the results should be interpreted carefully, individuals with chronic headaches showed significantly higher levels of alexithymia when compared to healthy individuals. No conclusive results were found for the other variables of interest.
CONCLUSION
Although the overall evidence from this review is very low, people with chronic primary headaches and oro-facial pain could be regularly screened for alexithymia to guarantee appropriate management.
PubMed: 38803203
DOI: 10.1111/joor.13742 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2024Child maltreatment is a global concern that profoundly affects individuals throughout their lives. This study investigated the relationships between various forms of...
Child maltreatment is a global concern that profoundly affects individuals throughout their lives. This study investigated the relationships between various forms of child maltreatment and behavior problems involving internalization and externalization during adolescence. Data obtained from a diverse sample of 1802 Canadians aged 14-18 years was used to examine the mediating role of alexithymia-a difficulty in recognizing and expressing emotions-in these associations. Results indicated that adolescents who experienced sexual abuse, emotional abuse, and exposure to intimate partner violence (IPV) in their childhood exhibited higher levels of alexithymia, which was correlated with elevated levels of both internalizing and externalizing problems. Physical abuse and parental neglect were only associated with externalizing problems. Gender differences also emerged, with gender-diverse adolescents reporting a higher prevalence of maltreatment, alexithymia, and behavior problems compared with their peers. However, alexithymia's mediating role was consistent across genders. Overall, this study highlights the intricate relationships between child maltreatment, alexithymia, and adolescent behavior problems. The findings of this study how different forms of child maltreatment significantly shape behavioral outcomes and indicate the importance of interventions in enhancing emotional awareness and expression in adolescents with a childhood history of maltreatment.
Topics: Adolescent; Female; Humans; Male; Affective Symptoms; Canada; Child Abuse; North American People; Physical Abuse
PubMed: 38493260
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-56909-2