Is alexithymia associated with sleep problems? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Sleep Medicine
• Psychology

Background:

• Alexithymia is characterized by difficulties in identifying and expressing emotions.
• Existing research suggests a link between alexithymia and sleep disturbances.
• The cumulative impact of this association on sleep quality remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and meta-analyze scientific evidence on the relationship between alexithymia and sleep quality.
• To quantify the association between alexithymia and sleep problems.
• To investigate potential differences in this association between patient and healthy populations.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review and meta-analysis adhering to PRISMA guidelines.
• Searched six major scientific databases for relevant observational studies.
• Employed a random-effect model for meta-analysis, calculating effect size (ES) with Fisher's z transformation.

Main Results:

• Included 26 observational studies with 7546 participants from 12 countries.
• Found a significant overall association between alexithymia and sleep problems (ES = 0.44).
• The association was stronger in patient populations (ES = 0.55) compared to healthy populations (ES = 0.30).

Conclusions:

• A significant relationship exists between alexithymia and sleep problems.
• Individuals with medical conditions experience a more substantial negative impact on sleep quality due to alexithymia.
• Findings underscore the importance of considering emotional processing in managing sleep disturbances.