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Zhang B, Li X, Deng H, Tan P, He W, Huang S, Wang L, Xu H, Cao L, Nie G. The relationship of personality, alexithymia, anxiety symptoms, and odor awareness: a mediation analysis. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:185. [PMID: 38448836 PMCID: PMC10916267 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05653-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Personality, emotions, and olfaction exhibit partial anatomical overlap in the limbic system structure, establishing potential mechanisms between personality, affective disorders, and olfactory-related aspects. Thus, this study aims to investigate the associations among the Big Five personality traits, alexithymia, anxiety symptoms, and odor awareness. METHODS A total of 863 college participants were recruited for this study. All participants completed the Chinese Big Five Personality Inventory-15, the Odor Awareness Scale (OAS), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20, and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Screener-7. Structural equation modeling was employed to examine the hypothesized mediated model. RESULTS The findings revealed the majority of significant intercorrelations among the dimensions of the Big Five personality traits, alexithymia, anxiety symptoms, and OAS (|r| = 0.072-0.567, p < 0.05). Alexithymia and anxiety symptoms exhibited a serial mediation effect between neuroticism and OAS (95%CI[0.001, 0.014]), conscientiousness and OAS (95%CI[-0.008, -0.001]), and extraversion and OAS (95%CI[-0.006, -0.001]). Anxiety symptoms mediated the relationship between agreeableness and OAS (95%CI[-0.023, -0.001]) and between openness and OAS (95%CI [0.004, 0.024]). CONCLUSION The mediating roles of alexithymia and anxiety symptoms between the Big Five personality traits and odor awareness support the idea of a certain level of association among personality, emotions, and olfaction, with the underlying role of the limbic system structure. This enhances our understanding of personality, emotions, and olfaction and provides insights for future intervention measures for affective disorders and olfactory dysfunctions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binfeng Zhang
- Department of Psychology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Xiuxia Li
- Department of Psychology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Hongzhen Deng
- School of Health Management, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peixuan Tan
- Department of Psychology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Wanyong He
- Department of Psychology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Shuling Huang
- Department of Psychology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Psychology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Department of Psychology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Lei Cao
- Department of Psychology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China
| | - Guanghui Nie
- Department of Psychology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, China.
- School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuangyong Road 22, 530021, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
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Wang Z, Wang L, Chang S, Wang H. The Mediating Effect of Parenting Stress on the Relationship Between Social Support and Quality of Life in Parents of Children With Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:713620. [PMID: 35250654 PMCID: PMC8891381 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.713620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study is to investigate whether parenting stress mediate the relationship between social support and quality of life in parents of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder. In addition, we examined what other variables moderate the relationships in this mediation model. METHODS Using the two-stage meta-analytic structural equation modeling approach (MASEM), 44 correlation matrices were synthesized from 28 empirical studies (N = 13,270) and fitted to the hypothesized mediation model. RESULTS There is a significant partial mediation effect of parenting stress on the relationship between social support and quality of life. Subgroup analysis through the first stage analysis suggested that social support measurements, parental role, and child's age moderated the relationship between social support and parenting stress, and that the focus of quality of life moderated the relationship between social support and quality of life. Subgroup analysis through the second stage analysis indicated that parenting stress had a significantly stronger predictive effect on quality of life in Western culture, while the predictive effect of social support on quality of life was significantly stronger in Eastern culture. CONCLUSION Having more social support can reduce parents' stress and then improving their quality of life, which can help them cope more positively and effectively with their autistic children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhidan Wang
- School of Education Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, China
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Kirchner K, Brauer H, Van der Auwera S, Grabe HJ. The Impact of Resilience, Alexithymia and Subjectively Perceived Helplessness of Myocardial Infarction on the Risk of Posttraumatic Stress. J Clin Psychol Med Settings 2022; 29:954-962. [PMID: 35169973 DOI: 10.1007/s10880-022-09857-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of resilience, alexithymia and the subjectively perceived severity (fear of death, pain intensity, helplessness) of myocardial infarction (MI) on posttraumatic symptom severity (PTSS) after MI. Patients were assessed with the Posttraumatic Diagnostic Scale (PDS), Resilience Scale (RS-11) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Subjectively perceived severity of MI was measured with three items on a 10-point Likert scale. To test our hypothesis, we applied Pearson correlations as well as multiple hierarchical linear regression analyses. A higher resilience score was significantly associated with lower (r = - .39, p < .001) PTSS. Higher scores of alexithymia (r = .38, p < .01) and subjectively perceived helplessness (r = .42, p < .001) were associated with higher PTSS. Multiple hierarchical linear regression analyses revealed that resilience, the TAS-20 subscale difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) and especially subjectively perceived helplessness were independent significant predictors for the PTSS, adjusted R2 = .29, F(5, 102) = 9.57, p < .001. Our results suggest that resilience reduces the PTSS whereas alexithymia and subjectively perceived helplessness increase the risk. Especially the subjectively perceived helplessness explains a high degree of variance of PTSS and should be assessed to hindering further mental health burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Kirchner
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17489, Greifswald, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany.
| | - Hartmut Brauer
- Department of Cardiological Rehabilitation, KMG Klinik Silbermühle, Plau am See, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany
| | - Sandra Van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17489, Greifswald, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany.,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany
| | - Hans Jörgen Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Ellernholzstraße 1-2, 17489, Greifswald, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany.,German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, Germany
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Fresán A, González-Castro TB, Pool-García S, Tovilla-Zárate CA, Castellanos-Narvaéz E, Cruz JPSDL, Juárez-Rojop IE, López-Narváez ML, Lopez AM. Evaluation of alexithymia in individuals with chronic pain in a Mexican population: Alexithymia in a Mexican population. Int J Psychiatry Med 2021; 56:177-188. [PMID: 33327844 DOI: 10.1177/0091217420982086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Alexithymia is the difficulty in identifying and describing feelings. Several studies have suggested that chronic pain can be linked to alexithymia. The aims of this study were to determine the presence of alexithymia in a sample of Mexican individuals who attended public health services, to assess if alexithymia is higher in medically ill individuals with pain than in those without pain, and to determine which alexithymia dimensions are more affected by the presence of pain. METHODS Demographic and clinical features were evaluated in 250 Mexican outpatients of the General Hospital of Comalcalco, Tabasco. Pain was evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale for Pain Assessment (VAS-P) and alexithymia was evaluated using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). RESULTS 38.8% of the sample was identified with probable/definite alexithymia and up to 61.2% of individuals were currently experiencing pain. Individuals with pain exhibited higher scores in the TAS-20 dimensions: difficulty describing feelings (p = 0.02), difficulty identifying feelings (p < 0.001) and higher total TAS-20 score (p < 0.001). Also, Probable/definite alexithymia was more frequently reported in individuals with pain (49% vs. 21.6%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Our results show that a large proportion of individuals who attend public health services in a Mexican population present pain. We also identified that pain could be associated with alexithymia, in particular with a difficulty in describing and identifying feelings. An early identification and treatment of alexithymia could help in reducing the clinical burden of chronic pain in Mexican outpatients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Fresán
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñíz, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Thelma Beatriz González-Castro
- División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Jalpa de Méndez, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Jalpa de Méndez, Tabasco, México
| | - Sherezada Pool-García
- Hospital General de Comalcalco "Dr. Desiderio G Rosado Carbajal", Secretaría de Salud, Comalcalco, Tabasco, México
| | - Carlos Alfonso Tovilla-Zárate
- División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Comalcalco, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Comalcalco, Tabasco, México
| | - Eduardo Castellanos-Narvaéz
- División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Comalcalco, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Comalcalco, Tabasco, México
| | - Juan Pablo Sánchez de la Cruz
- División Académica Multidisciplinaria de Comalcalco, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Comalcalco, Tabasco, México
| | - Isela Esther Juárez-Rojop
- División Académica de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México
| | - María Lilia López-Narváez
- Hospital General de Yajalón "Dr. José Manuel Velasco Silez", Secretaría de Salud, Yajalón, Chiapas, México
| | - Alejandro Molina Lopez
- Subdirección de Investigaciones Clínicas, Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñíz, Ciudad de México, México
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Alexithymia in individuals with chronic pain and its relation to pain intensity, physical interference, depression, and anxiety: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Pain 2020; 160:994-1006. [PMID: 31009416 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Numerous studies have examined how alexithymia (difficulty identifying and describing one's emotions and a preference for externally oriented thinking) relates to chronic pain and associated disability. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to summarize individual studies that either assessed alexithymia in individuals with chronic pain vs controls or related alexithymia to pain intensity, physical interference, depression, and anxiety. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, and PsycINFO from inception through June 2017; 77 studies met the criteria (valid assessment of alexithymia in adults or children with any chronic pain condition) and were included in analyses (n = 8019 individuals with chronic pain). Primary analyses indicated that chronic pain samples had significantly higher mean alexithymia scores compared with nonclinical (d = 0.81) and clinical nonpain (d = 0.55) controls. In chronic pain samples, alexithymia was significantly positively associated with pain intensity (d = 0.20), physical interference (d = 0.17), depression (d = 0.46), and anxiety (d = 0.43). Secondary meta-analyses of 14 studies that conducted partial correlations that controlled for negative affect-related measures revealed that alexithymia was no longer significantly related to pain intensity or interference. Meta-analysis findings demonstrated that alexithymia is elevated in individuals with chronic pain and related to greater pain intensity and physical interference, although the latter relationships may be accounted for by negative affect. Critical future work is needed that examines alexithymia assessed using non-self-report measures, develops a person-centered perspective on this construct, and identifies how alexithymia is relevant to the assessment and treatment of individuals with chronic pain.
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Hasuo H, Sakuma H, Fukunaga M. Alexithymia in Family Caregivers of Advanced Cancer Patients Is Associated with High Personalized Pain Goal Scores: A Pilot Study. J Palliat Med 2020; 23:930-936. [PMID: 31910341 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2019.0257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Alexithymia, or difficulty identifying and describing emotions and sensations, contributes to an increased risk of chronic pain, and low help-seeking. Objective: To investigate whether family caregivers of advanced cancer patients visiting a palliative care department had alexithymia, and whether this was related to their pain intensity, personalized pain goals, and help-seeking for chronic musculoskeletal pain. Design: A single-center cross-sectional survey. Measurements: Pain intensity was evaluated using a numerical rating scale. Pain improvement was evaluated against personal goals. Alexithymia was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), and anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Setting/Subjects: Of 320 family caregivers visiting the palliative care department, 152 (47.5%) had chronic musculoskeletal pain; all 152 were included in the study. Results: Alexithymia was observed in 36.2% of participants. Participants with higher scores on the TAS-20 tended to have higher pain intensity scores and personal pain goal scores. TAS-20 score had the strongest correlation with personal pain goals, with a correlation coefficient of 0.555 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Pain intensity in family caregivers with alexithymia tended to be high. These participants set higher personal pain goals (lower goals for symptom improvement) than those without alexithymia. We found no difference in personal pain goal response between family caregivers with and without alexithymia. When we examine pain in family members with alexithymia who are caring for cancer patients, we need to recognize that they may set higher personal pain goals and seek less help.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideaki Hasuo
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan
| | - Hiroko Sakuma
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan
| | - Mikihiko Fukunaga
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Japan
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The five factor model of personality and alexithymia: A meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN PERSONALITY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jrp.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Klinger-König J, Hertel J, Terock J, Völzke H, Van der Auwera S, Grabe HJ. Predicting physical and mental health symptoms: Additive and interactive effects of difficulty identifying feelings, neuroticism and extraversion. J Psychosom Res 2018; 115:14-23. [PMID: 30470312 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2018.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Alexithymia, neuroticism, and extraversion have been described as relevant predictors of mental and physical health conditions, but their putative interactive effects remain poorly understood and their prospective effects are not well studied. The present study has investigated the differential contributions of distinct personality traits in predicting mental and somatic health symptoms in cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. METHODS Additive and interactive effects of neuroticism and extraversion (NEO-FFI), the TAS-20 total score (20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale) and its factors (Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF), Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF) and External Oriented Thinking (EOT)) have been investigated on depressive symptoms, the number of chronic diseases, somatic and mental subjective health complaints. Analyses have been based on data from the population-based "Study of Health in Pomerania" (SHIP) in cross-sectional (N = 1704) and longitudinal (N = 1244) analyses. RESULTS In cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses, additive associations of the TAS-20 total score and neuroticism on somatic and mental health complaints have been observed. The effects of the TAS-20 total score have been mainly carried by DIF. Further, in interaction effetcs extraversion has attenuated the negative impact of neuroticism, whereas DIF has augmented it. CONCLUSION The present study is the first demonstrating longitudinal effects of alexithymia, particularly DIF, neuroticism, and extraversion in predicting mental and somatic health symptoms. Associations between DIF, neuroticism, and extraversion have been additive and interactive. Hence, subjects high in neuroticism and DIF but low in extraversion have reported most health symptoms and thus might be in need for prevention strategies. Treatments chould be adapted to the associated combination of the personality characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Klinger-König
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Johannes Hertel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Jan Terock
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, HELIOS Hanseklinikum Stralsund, Germany.
| | - Henry Völzke
- Institute for Community Medicine, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Sandra Van der Auwera
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany; German Centre of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Hans J Grabe
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medicine Greifswald, Germany; German Centre of Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Site Rostock/Greifswald, Germany.
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Chen L, Xu L, You W, Zhang X, Ling N. Prevalence and associated factors of alexithymia among adult prisoners in China: a cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry 2017; 17:287. [PMID: 28768497 PMCID: PMC5541430 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-017-1443-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prison is an extremely stressful environment and prisoners have an increasing risk of suffering from alexithymia. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of alexithymia among prisoners in China. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in five main jails of the district of Zhejiang province in China, and a total of 1705 adult prisoners ultimately took part in the study. Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Beck Hopelessness Scale and several short demographic questions were applied. RESULTS Over 30% of prisoners were classified as alexithymics and as high as 96.2% of prisoners suffered from at least one traumatic experience in their childhood, meanwhile, 81.5%, 53.4% and 85.8% were found to be positive for depression, anxiety and hopelessness symptoms respectively. Education, childhood trauma, negative emotional symptoms including depression, anxiety and hopelessness of the respondents, were negatively or positively associated with alexithymia among prisoners. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that high prevalence of alexithymia among prisoners is linked with their level of education, experience of childhood trauma and symptoms of negative emotions. Accordingly, the findings in our study can be used for prevention and intervention of alexithymia among prisoners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Chen
- Department of Applied Psychology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
| | - Linna Xu
- 0000 0001 2151 7947grid.265850.cDepartment of Economics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Albany, NY USA
| | - Weimin You
- Public Security Sub-Bureau of Huangyan, Taizhou Public Security Bureau, Huangyan, China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- 0000 0004 1764 2632grid.417384.dDepartment of Children’s Health Care, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
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Zeng F, Sun X, Yang B, Fu X. Life events, anxiety, social support, personality, and alexithymia in female patients with chronic pain: A path analysis. Asia Pac Psychiatry 2016; 8:44-50. [PMID: 26568558 PMCID: PMC5063115 DOI: 10.1111/appy.12222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/06/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study sought to identify a model that explains the relationship between psychosocial factors and chronic pain in female patients, and to explore all of these constructs in a single study and provide a more holistic examination of the overall psychosocial factors that female patients with chronic pain encounter. METHODS Female patients with chronic pain (n = 147), aged 20-65 (M = 34.9 years, SD = 11.25), from an outpatient pain clinic completed a cross-sectional self-report questionnaire on anxiety, life events, personality, social support, and alexithymia. Data were analyzed by means of path analysis. RESULTS The direct effect of anxiety on female patients with chronic pain was greatest among all the paths. Personality and alexithymia led to chronic pain in female patients only indirectly, mediated by life events. The personality factors of neuroticism and extraversion were associated positively with social support, which had an indirect effect on the influence of life events on chronic pain. However, alexithymia was associated negatively with social support, which had an indirect effect on the influence of life events on chronic pain. DISCUSSION Our findings provide evidence that life events are a mediator in the relationship between personality, social support, alexithymia, and chronic pain in female patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanmin Zeng
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xueli Sun
- Department of Psychiatry, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Bangxiang Yang
- Department of Pain Management, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaoqian Fu
- Department of Psychiatry, Suzhou Psychiatry Hospital, Suzhou, China
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