Alexithymia, social support and health problems

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• Alexithymia is a personality trait characterized by difficulty identifying and expressing emotions.
• Previous research suggests a link between alexithymia and social difficulties.
• The role of social skills and social support in mediating this relationship requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between alexithymia and perceived/network social support.
• To determine if reduced social skills account for the relationship between alexithymia and social support.
• To investigate whether limited social support mediates the link between alexithymia and health problems.

Main Methods:

• Three studies were conducted involving healthy young adults and patients.
• Alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale.
• Social variables, physical health, and depression were measured.

Main Results:

• Alexithymia was associated with lower perceived social support and fewer close relationships.
• Deficits in social skills fully accounted for the link between alexithymia and smaller social networks.
• Alexithymia correlated with somatic complaints and depression, independent of social support.

Conclusions:

• Alexithymia is linked to reduced perceived and network social support, primarily due to social skills deficits.
• Reduced social support does not explain the association between alexithymia and health problems.
• Findings highlight the impact of alexithymia on social functioning and its indirect effects on well-being.