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The relationship between two types of impaired emotion processing: repressive coping and alexithymia
Lynn B Myers1, Nazanin Derakshan2
1College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University , Uxbridge, UK.
Frontiers in Psychology
|July 3, 2015
Summary
Repressive coping, a style of avoiding negative emotions, is linked to alexithymia, difficulty identifying and describing feelings. Standard questionnaires may underestimate this link, highlighting the need for interview-based assessments.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Emotion Science
Background:
- Repressive coping and alexithymia are associated with difficulties in emotion processing.
- Repressors typically avoid negative affect, potentially masking alexithymia on self-report measures.
- Previous research indicates lower self-reported alexithymia scores in individuals with repressive coping styles.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between repressive coping and alexithymia.
- To bypass the potential underestimation of alexithymia in repressors using self-report measures.
- To explore the utility of independently-rated interviews in assessing alexithymia in repressors.
Main Methods:
- Utilized independently-rated interviews to assess alexithymia.
- Compared alexithymia scores of individuals with repressive coping styles to controls and anxious individuals.
- Examined the discrepancy between self-report questionnaire measures and interview-based assessments.
Main Results:
- Repressors scored high on alexithymia when assessed via independently-rated interviews.
- Interview-based alexithymia scores for repressors were similar to those of anxious individuals.
- Repressors exhibited low alexithymia scores on standard questionnaire measures, contrasting with interview findings.
Conclusions:
- Confirms a significant link between repressive coping and alexithymia.
- Underscores the limitations of self-report measures in capturing alexithymia in repressors.
- Emphasizes the necessity of employing non-standard, interview-based methods for a comprehensive understanding of this relationship.
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