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Alexithymia, emotion, and somatic complaints.

L G Lundh1, M Simonsson-Sarnecki

  • 1Department of Psychology, Stockholm University.

Journal of Personality
|August 2, 2001
PubMed
Summary

This study found no link between alexithymia (difficulty identifying emotions) and somatic complaints. Alexithymia was associated with lower positive affect, suggesting a need for further research.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Psychiatry
  • Affective Science

Background:

  • Alexithymia is characterized by difficulty identifying and describing emotions.
  • It has been theorized to correlate with somatization, expressing distress through physical symptoms.
  • Previous research has not conclusively supported a strong link between alexithymia and somatic complaints, especially when controlling for negative affect.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between alexithymia and somatic complaints in a community sample.
  • To examine the association between alexithymia and both positive and negative affect.
  • To clarify the nature of alexithymia's emotional correlates.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) to measure alexithymia.
  • Assessed somatic complaints, trait anxiety, depression, and affect (positive and negative).
  • Employed statistical controls for trait anxiety and depression in a community sample of 137 individuals.

Main Results:

  • No significant association was found between alexithymia and somatic complaints after controlling for trait anxiety and depression.
  • Alexithymia demonstrated a significant negative correlation with positive affect.
  • A positive correlation between alexithymia and negative affect was observed, primarily with subjective trait measures.

Conclusions:

  • The findings do not support the hypothesis that alexithymia is directly associated with somatic complaints in the general population.
  • The robust negative association with positive affect suggests that alexithymia may be more characterized by a deficit in positive emotional experience.
  • Future research should prioritize exploring the link between alexithymia and the experience of positive affect.

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