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dc.contributor.authorPreece, David
dc.contributor.authorMehta, A.
dc.contributor.authorBecerra, R.
dc.contributor.authorChen, Wai
dc.contributor.authorAllan, A.
dc.contributor.authorRobinson, K.
dc.contributor.authorBoyes, Mark
dc.contributor.authorHasking, Penelope
dc.contributor.authorGross, J.J.
dc.date.accessioned2023-11-13T00:24:09Z
dc.date.available2023-11-13T00:24:09Z
dc.date.issued2022
dc.identifier.citationPreece, D.A. and Mehta, A. and Becerra, R. and Chen, W. and Allan, A. and Robinson, K. and Boyes, M. et al. 2022. Why is alexithymia a risk factor for affective disorder symptoms? The role of emotion regulation. Journal of Affective Disorders. 296: pp. 337-341.
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/93746
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.jad.2021.09.085
dc.description.abstract

Background: Ever since alexithymia was defined in the 1970s, robust associations have been observed between alexithymia and a variety of symptoms of psychopathology. Alexithymia is now widely regarded as an important transdiagnostic risk factor, and it is frequently assessed in clinical and research settings. However, despite this strong interest, it remains unclear exactly why (i.e., by which mechanisms) alexithymia is linked to psychopathology. In this paper, we hypothesise that alexithymia is linked to affective disorder symptoms because alexithymia impairs people's ability to regulate their emotions, and we empirically test this hypothesis. Method: We administered a battery of psychometric measures to 501 adults in the United States, and examined the direct and indirect effects between alexithymia (Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire), emotion regulation ability (Perth Emotion Regulation Competency Inventory), and affective disorder symptoms (Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21). Results: In the Pearson bivariate correlation matrix, alexithymia, emotion regulation difficulties, and affective disorder symptoms were all significantly correlated. In the modelling of direct and indirect effects, alexithymia was indirectly associated with affective disorder symptoms through emotion regulation difficulties (no significant direct effect). Limitations: Our online survey data were all self-report data and cross-sectional. Future longitudinal work would be beneficial. Conclusions: Our findings support contemporary theorising that alexithymia is linked to affective disorder symptoms via emotion regulation difficulties. These results help to clarify the mechanisms by which alexithymia may predispose people to affective disorder symptoms, and highlight the importance of considering the roles of alexithymia and emotion regulation in case conceptualisations and treatment planning.

dc.languageEnglish
dc.publisherELSEVIER
dc.relation.sponsoredbyhttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1173043
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
dc.subjectScience & Technology
dc.subjectLife Sciences & Biomedicine
dc.subjectClinical Neurology
dc.subjectPsychiatry
dc.subjectNeurosciences & Neurology
dc.subjectAlexithymia
dc.subjectPsychopathology
dc.subjectEmotion regulation
dc.subjectAffective disorder symptoms
dc.subjectDepression
dc.subjectAnxiety
dc.subjectITEM SELECTION
dc.subjectVALIDATION
dc.subjectRELIABILITY
dc.subjectDEPRESSION
dc.subjectPREVALENCE
dc.subjectSCALE
dc.subjectAffective disorder symptoms
dc.subjectAlexithymia
dc.subjectAnxiety
dc.subjectDepression
dc.subjectEmotion regulation
dc.subjectPsychopathology
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectAffective Symptoms
dc.subjectCross-Sectional Studies
dc.subjectEmotional Regulation
dc.subjectEmotions
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectMood Disorders
dc.subjectRisk Factors
dc.subjectHumans
dc.subjectRisk Factors
dc.subjectCross-Sectional Studies
dc.subjectAffective Symptoms
dc.subjectEmotions
dc.subjectMood Disorders
dc.subjectAdult
dc.subjectEmotional Regulation
dc.titleWhy is alexithymia a risk factor for affective disorder symptoms? The role of emotion regulation
dc.typeJournal Article
dcterms.source.volume296
dcterms.source.startPage337
dcterms.source.endPage341
dcterms.source.issn0165-0327
dcterms.source.titleJournal of Affective Disorders
dc.date.updated2023-11-13T00:24:09Z
curtin.departmentCurtin Medical School
curtin.departmentCurtin School of Population Health
curtin.accessStatusOpen access
curtin.facultyFaculty of Health Sciences
curtin.contributor.orcidBoyes, Mark [0000-0001-5420-8606]
curtin.contributor.orcidPreece, David [0000-0003-1060-2024]
curtin.contributor.orcidChen, Wai [0000-0002-0477-7883]
curtin.contributor.orcidHasking, Penelope [0000-0002-0172-9288]
curtin.contributor.researcheridBoyes, Mark [G-9680-2014]
dcterms.source.eissn1573-2517
curtin.contributor.scopusauthoridBoyes, Mark [26537153900]
curtin.contributor.scopusauthoridHasking, Penelope [55924025500]
curtin.repositoryagreementV3


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