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Alexithymia: relationship with ego defense and coping styles
J D Parker1, G J Taylor, R M Bagby
1Department of Psychology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
Comprehensive Psychiatry
|March 27, 1998
Summary
Alexithymia is linked to immature coping mechanisms, not adaptive defenses. This study in nonclinical adults shows alexithymia correlates with maladaptive ego defenses and emotion-focused or avoidance coping strategies.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Alexithymia is debated as either an emotional processing deficit or a defensive coping style.
- Prior research in clinical groups associated alexithymia with immature ego defenses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between alexithymia and defense styles in nonclinical populations.
- To explore alexithymia's connection to general coping styles under stress.
Main Methods:
- Two samples of nonclinical adults completed the Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Defense Style Questionnaire (DSQ), and Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS).
- Statistical analyses examined correlations between alexithymia scores and various defense and coping styles.
Main Results:
- Alexithymia strongly correlated with immature defense styles and negatively with mature defense styles in Sample 1.
- Alexithymic individuals in Sample 2 exhibited higher immature and neurotic defenses, and lower mature defenses.
- Alexithymic students utilized more emotion-oriented and distraction-based avoidance coping, and less task-oriented coping.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest alexithymia is associated with maladaptive, rather than adaptive, defense and coping strategies.
- The study challenges the notion of alexithymia as a beneficial or adaptive psychological mechanism.