Dimensions of Alexithymia and Their Relationships to Anxiety and Depression

Michael S. Hendryx, Mark G. Haviland, Dale G. Shaw

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Investigators have suggested that alexithymia is a multidimensional construct and that it is responsive to situational stressors. We tested these hypotheses in a sample of 110 freshman medical students. We conducted factor analyses on the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the state portion of the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and then used LISREL to examine the relationships among the various factors. The results indicated that the TAS consists of several independent dimensions and that the dimensions associated with difficulties identifying and communicating feelings are positively related to depression and anxiety. Thus, the evidence now affirms that alexithymia (as measured by the TAS) is multidimensional and that certain dimensions are state dependent.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)227-237
Number of pages11
JournalJournal of Personality Assessment
Volume56
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 1991

ASJC Scopus Subject Areas

  • Clinical Psychology
  • Psychiatry and Mental health
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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