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Metwally RS, Abdullah AA, AlAmmar WA, Sebastian T. Are dietary pattern associated with alexithymia in Saudi adults? Nutr Health 2024; 30:291-300. [PMID: 35981142 DOI: 10.1177/02601060221115508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alexithymia is characterized by difficulties in describing feelings and physical sensations. Few studies have shown that there is a relation between alexithymia and dietary habits. OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of alexithymia and its association with dietary patterns among a sample of communities in the Eastern Region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MATERIALS AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted using a sample of 247 participants, were selected using convenience sampling. A well-organized and valid online questionnaire was administered, which covered variables related to socio-demographic data, anthropometric measurements, dietary patterns, and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). RESULTS The prevalence of Alexithymia was found as 39.3%. Moreover, among the alexithymia and possible alexithymia groups, the majority eat pasta 1-4 times per week (70% and 67% respectively). Alexithemic participants eat fewer vegetables and fruits 46%), while the remaining eat more (70%), p = .001. Only 34% of the cases eat breakfast regularly (p = .005). Furthermore, the cases drink soft drinks and juices at meals more than controls in this study (p = .025). CONCLUSION The present study provides further experimental evidence which supports existing literature that indicating the strong association between alexithymia and unhealthy dietary patterns. Also, Alexithymia prevalence in our study is (39.3%) ; because of the cultural impact of the Saudi environment due to the fact that the face of Saudi women is not revealed, and because the face is one of the main sources of expression of feelings, which makes females unable to express or read feelings well.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmed Amr Abdullah
- Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, University Counselling Centre, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Tunny Sebastian
- Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
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Guidotti S, Fiduccia A, Pruneti C. Introversion, Alexithymia, and Hostility: A Path Analysis From Personality to Suicidal Ideation Among University Students. Psychol Rep 2024:332941241247526. [PMID: 38623941 DOI: 10.1177/00332941241247526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between state (i.e., hostility) and trait (i.e., social detachment, alexithymia) psychological constructs associated with suicidal ideation among university students. METHODS A group of 190 university students was consecutively recruited in the period between September 2022 and March 2023. After a clinical interview, a series of psychological tests were administered: the Cattell's 16-Personality Factors Questionnaire (16PF), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R), and the anamnestic form of the Cognitive Behavioral Assessment (CBA2.0), which contains a specific question regarding the suicidal ideation. RESULTS The analyses demonstrated that alexithymia fully mediated the relationship between a particular aspect of introversion (social detachment or low warmth) and hostility which, in turn, seemed to be a significant predictor of suicidal ideation. CONCLUSIONS The path analysis conducted seemed to highlight the importance of personality traits, such as social detachment and the ability to recognize and express one's internal states, on the mental health of university students in terms of hostility and suicidal ideation. Considering that the reduction of suicide mortality has been prioritized as a global target in the 15-19 age group, identifying the psychological factors associated with it is fundamental.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Guidotti
- Clinical Psychology, Clinical Psychophysiology, and Clinical Neuropsychology Labs, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Alice Fiduccia
- Clinical Psychology, Clinical Psychophysiology, and Clinical Neuropsychology Labs, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Carlo Pruneti
- Clinical Psychology, Clinical Psychophysiology, and Clinical Neuropsychology Labs, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
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Alturki LE, Alofisan GM, Alsaif LK, Alharbi SA, Alturki NM, Aldahash SS, Almutairi RJ, Abd-Elhaleem ZA. Alexithymia and Quality of Life in Saudi Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Community-Based Study. Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e943594. [PMID: 38600677 PMCID: PMC11020573 DOI: 10.12659/msm.943594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The endocrine metabolic disorder polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is quite common among women. Women with PCOS show a compromised health-related quality of life (HRQoL), impaired emotional well-being, and alexithymia, a neuropsychological phenomenon conceptualized as difficulty in recognizing and expressing one's emotions. However, the relationship between alexithymia and HRQoL in women with PCOS is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of alexithymia on HRQoL in women with PCOS in Saudi Arabia. MATERIAL AND METHODS This descriptive cross-sectional, community-based study enrolled 518 female patients with a diagnosis of PCOS from all age groups. The patients were surveyed via a self-administered questionnaire from December 2022 to January 2023. The survey encompassed sociodemographic data, the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and HRQoL 15-dimensional scale (15D). RESULTS This study included 320 participants (61.8%) with alexithymia. A significant association was found between alexithymia and low HRQoL 15D scores in patients with PCOS. Specifically, scores on the TAS-20 subscales related to difficulty in identifying feelings and describing feelings were positively correlated with HRQoL (P=0.000). However, externally oriented thinking subscale scores were not positively correlated with HRQoL (P=0.44). CONCLUSIONS The presence of alexithymia is associated with poor HRQoL in women with PCOS, which is more pronounced among those who received a diagnosis ≥4 years ago. Alexithymia must be considered when assessing the HRQoL of patients with PCOS, considering the relatively high prevalence of alexithymia in these patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leen E. Alturki
- Medical Student, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gomanh M. Alofisan
- Medical Student, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Layan K. Alsaif
- Medical Student, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saja A. Alharbi
- Medical Student, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nora M. Alturki
- Medical Student, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shekhah S. Aldahash
- Medical Student, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Razan J. Almutairi
- Medical Student, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zeinab A. Abd-Elhaleem
- Department of Basic Science, College of Medicine, Majmaah University, Majmaah, Saudi Arabia
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Karki S, Shrestha O, Thapa N, Gupta S, Chaudhary A, Yadav A, Manandhar P. Prevalence of alexithymia among medical students in Nepal: A cross-sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1262. [PMID: 37205935 PMCID: PMC10189862 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Alexithymia is a state in which one cannot comprehend and put their emotions or feelings into words. It is a disturbance that is common among general population as well as people with mental health disorders. Medical students are at higher risk of developing alexithymia due to the extensive nature of their course and clinical postings. The presence of alexithymia is negatively correlated with the self-efficacy of the students eventually affecting self-care and patient care in the future. The aim of this study is to find the prevalence of alexithymia among medical students in Nepal and know its associated factors. Methods This cross-sectional study used convenient sampling for selecting responders and the TAS-20 tool for data collection. Data were analyzed by using SPSS 20. Frequency was calculated for all the variables. Prevalence with 95% confidence interval [CI] is reported and the χ 2 test is used to see the difference in alexithymia status among different categories of dichotomous independent variables. Results Out of 386 students, 380 of them responded. The ratio of male and female was 1.8 with the mean age of 22.22 ± 1.77 years. The prevalence of alexithymia was found to be 22.89% (95% CI, 18.9-27.1). There was no statistically significant difference between the presence and absence of alexithymia among categories of sex, year of study, staying at hostel, involvement in extracurricular activities, involvement in daily exercise/yoga/outdoor sports, and smoking habit. Conclusion The prevalence of alexithymia in our study was 22.89% with no association with known factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagun Karki
- College of MedicineNepalese Army Institute of Health SciencesKathmanduNepal
| | - Oshan Shrestha
- College of MedicineNepalese Army Institute of Health SciencesKathmanduNepal
| | - Niranjan Thapa
- College of MedicineNepalese Army Institute of Health SciencesKathmanduNepal
| | - Satish Gupta
- College of MedicineNepalese Army Institute of Health SciencesKathmanduNepal
| | - Amit Chaudhary
- College of MedicineNepalese Army Institute of Health SciencesKathmanduNepal
| | - Abijeet Yadav
- College of MedicineNepalese Army Institute of Health SciencesKathmanduNepal
| | - Pradeep Manandhar
- Department of Psychiatry, Nepalese Army Institute of Health SciencesShree Birendra HospitalKathmanduNepal
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Sharafkhani R, Nukpezah RN, Lathabhavan R, Kallmen H, Fournier A, Hosseini Marznaki Z. Factors that affect levels of alexithymia, empathy and communication skills of nursing students in northern Iran. Nurs Open 2023; 10:3936-3945. [PMID: 36808820 PMCID: PMC10170927 DOI: 10.1002/nop2.1652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
AIM The inability of nurses to express their own emotions, understand others' emotions and show empathy could result in communication gaps that could affect patient care outcomes. This study investigates the factors associated with the levels of alexithymia, empathy and communication skills among nursing students. DESIGN A survey was conducted among 365 nursing students, and data were collected using an online questionnaire. METHODS Data analyses were done using SPSS software version 22. RESULTS There was a significant positive association between age and empathy and a negative association between the number of times a nurse took the entrance exam. The level of education and interest in nursing correlate with communication skills. All the predictor variables of alexithymia in this current study were not significant. Emphasis should be placed on improving nursing students' empathy and communication skills. Student nurses should be taught how to recognize and express their emotions. To assess their mental health, they must be screened regularly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahim Sharafkhani
- Department of Public health, Khoy University of Medical Sciences, Khoy, Iran
| | - Ruth Nimota Nukpezah
- Department of General Nursing, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana
| | | | - Hakan Kallmen
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, STAD, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet & Stockholm Health Care Services, Stockholm, Sweden
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Liu C, Cui C, Sznajder KK, Wang J, Zuo X, Yang X. Mindfulness for mediating the relationship between self-control and alexithymia among Chinese medical students: A structural equation modeling analysis. Front Psychol 2022; 13:966505. [PMID: 36582322 PMCID: PMC9793800 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2022.966505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Backgrounds Medical students are prone to experience alexithymia due to academic work overload, which could increase the prevalence of mental illness such as anxiety and depression. The purpose of our study was to estimate the levels of alexithymia and to explore the relationships between alexithymia, self-control, and mindfulness among medical students. Materials and methods From March 18th, 2021 to April 9th, 2021, a cross-sectional study with stratified sampling was carried out in China Medical University, Liaoning Province, China. A total of 1,013 medical students participated in this study. The questionnaires pertaining to the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26), the Five Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ), and the Self-control Scale (SCS) were used to assess the levels of alexithymia, mindfulness and self-control. We used Hierarchical Multiple Regression (HMR) and structural equation modeling to explore the mediating role of mindfulness between self-control and alexithymia. Results The mean score of alexithymia in medical students was 69.39 ± 9.9. After controlling for confounders, males were more likely to experience alexithymia. Self-control, acting with awareness, describing, and observing in mindfulness were negatively associated with alexithymia (P < 0.01). Mindfulness mediated the relationship between self-control and alexithymia (a*b = -0.06, BCa 95% CI: -0.09 to -0.031, Percentile 95% CI: -0.089 to -0.031). Conclusion Chinese medical students experienced high levels of alexithymia. Self-control could directly attenuate alexithymia for medical students and indirectly affect alexithymia through the mediating path of mindfulness. Initiatives for self-control ability enhancement should be provided to medical students to combat alexithymia. And interventions on mindfulness training should be developed to prevent from alexithymia and promote their mental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Can Cui
- Department of Social Medicine, China Medical University School of Public Health, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Kristin K. Sznajder
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Jiana Wang
- Department of Social Medicine, China Medical University School of Public Health, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoxuan Zuo
- Department of Social Medicine, China Medical University School of Public Health, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Xiaoshi Yang
- Department of Social Medicine, China Medical University School of Public Health, Shenyang, Liaoning, China,*Correspondence: Xiaoshi Yang,
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İlter SM, Ovayolu Ö. The relations between the alexithymia levels and social media addictions of nursing students. Perspect Psychiatr Care 2022; 58:2330-2336. [PMID: 35279855 DOI: 10.1111/ppc.13064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2021] [Revised: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The present study was conducted in a cross-sectional and descriptive design to examine the relations between alexithymia levels and social media addictions of nursing students. METHOD The study population consisted of nursing department students, and the sampling consisted of 202 students who had social media accounts and who volunteered to participate in the study. The study data were collected online between November 01, 2020 and November 08, 2020 with the questionnaire, Social Media Addiction Scale-Adult Form, and Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The data were evaluated with the Student's t, one-way analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney U, and correlation analysis. RESULTS It was found that 75.2% of the students were female, 57.9% were in the 18-20 age group, 60.3% of them spent 2-3 h a day on social media; social media addiction mean score was 64.81 ± 5.80 alexithymia mean score was 71.27 ± 8.62, and 46.03% were completely alexithymic. It was also found that there was a statistically positive and significant relation between the social media addiction and alexithymia scores of the students (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS It was determined that the mean alexithymia and social media addiction scores of the students were high, and they affected each other. In this respect, it is recommended that students be given training on limiting the use of social media. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Social media addiction average score was found to be high in nursing department students. The alexithymia score averages of the nursing department students were found to be high. It was determined that the COVID pandemic nursing department students increased the time they use social media.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sümeyra Mihrap İlter
- Department of Gerontology, Faculy of Health Sciences, Osmaniye Korkut Ata University, Osmaniye, Turkey
| | - Özlem Ovayolu
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gaziantep Unıversıty, Gaziantep, Turkey
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Aljaffer MA, Almadani AH, Alghamdi SA, Alabdulkarim IM, Albabtain MA, Altameem RM, Almugren AA, Alomairy AF, Alghofaily AA. Prevalence and associated factors of alexithymia among medical students: A cross-sectional study from Saudi Arabia. NEUROSCIENCES (RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA) 2022; 27:257-262. [PMID: 36252975 PMCID: PMC9749577 DOI: 10.17712/nsj.2022.4.20220049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the prevalence of alexithymia and its associated factors among medical students at King Saud University (KSU), Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted at KSU, including 420 medical students from all years of medical college (i.e., first to the fifth year), by using an electronic questionnaire distributed during August 2021. The questionnaire consisted of sociodemographic-related questions and the 20-item Toronto alexithymia scale (a validated scale in the literature). RESULTS The prevalence of alexithymia among the participants was found to be 26.9%. A statistically significant association between alexithymia and gender (p=0.013) was found. A diagnosis with any psychiatric condition (p=0.026), history of abuse during childhood (p=0.006), and lack of physical activity were associated with alexithymia. CONCLUSION The prevalence of alexithymia among medical students at KSU was significantly higher than general population in literatures. It was indicated in the results that being female, having a psychiatric condition or history of childhood abuse, and lack of physical activity were all associated with alexithymia. We recommend increasing awareness of and screening for alexithymia and its associated factors among medical students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed A. Aljaffer
- From the Department of Psychiatry (Aljaffer, Almadani), College of Medicine, King Saud University, from the College of Medicine (Alabdulkarim, Albabtain, Altameem, Almugren, Alomairy, Alghofaily), King Saud University, and from the Clinical Neurosciences Department (Alghamdi), College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad H. Almadani
- From the Department of Psychiatry (Aljaffer, Almadani), College of Medicine, King Saud University, from the College of Medicine (Alabdulkarim, Albabtain, Altameem, Almugren, Alomairy, Alghofaily), King Saud University, and from the Clinical Neurosciences Department (Alghamdi), College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,Address correspondence and reprint request to: Dr. Ahmad H. Almadani, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. E-mail: ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4490-3220
| | - Saleh A. Alghamdi
- From the Department of Psychiatry (Aljaffer, Almadani), College of Medicine, King Saud University, from the College of Medicine (Alabdulkarim, Albabtain, Altameem, Almugren, Alomairy, Alghofaily), King Saud University, and from the Clinical Neurosciences Department (Alghamdi), College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim M. Alabdulkarim
- From the Department of Psychiatry (Aljaffer, Almadani), College of Medicine, King Saud University, from the College of Medicine (Alabdulkarim, Albabtain, Altameem, Almugren, Alomairy, Alghofaily), King Saud University, and from the Clinical Neurosciences Department (Alghamdi), College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A. Albabtain
- From the Department of Psychiatry (Aljaffer, Almadani), College of Medicine, King Saud University, from the College of Medicine (Alabdulkarim, Albabtain, Altameem, Almugren, Alomairy, Alghofaily), King Saud University, and from the Clinical Neurosciences Department (Alghamdi), College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rayed M. Altameem
- From the Department of Psychiatry (Aljaffer, Almadani), College of Medicine, King Saud University, from the College of Medicine (Alabdulkarim, Albabtain, Altameem, Almugren, Alomairy, Alghofaily), King Saud University, and from the Clinical Neurosciences Department (Alghamdi), College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman A. Almugren
- From the Department of Psychiatry (Aljaffer, Almadani), College of Medicine, King Saud University, from the College of Medicine (Alabdulkarim, Albabtain, Altameem, Almugren, Alomairy, Alghofaily), King Saud University, and from the Clinical Neurosciences Department (Alghamdi), College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz F. Alomairy
- From the Department of Psychiatry (Aljaffer, Almadani), College of Medicine, King Saud University, from the College of Medicine (Alabdulkarim, Albabtain, Altameem, Almugren, Alomairy, Alghofaily), King Saud University, and from the Clinical Neurosciences Department (Alghamdi), College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz A. Alghofaily
- From the Department of Psychiatry (Aljaffer, Almadani), College of Medicine, King Saud University, from the College of Medicine (Alabdulkarim, Albabtain, Altameem, Almugren, Alomairy, Alghofaily), King Saud University, and from the Clinical Neurosciences Department (Alghamdi), College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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Association between Alexithymia and Depression among King Khalid University Medical Students: An Analytical Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10091703. [PMID: 36141315 PMCID: PMC9498473 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10091703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alexithymia is a condition in which a person is unable to explain his/her emotions, bodily sensations, or discuss sentiments. This study aims to determine the prevalence of alexithymia and its relationships with socio-demographics and depression among medical students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among medical students at King Khalid University (KKU), Saudi Arabia. A stratified random sampling technique was utilized for data collection using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9). A multiple logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with alexithymia. A total of 333 students participated in this study, almost two-thirds (64.6%) were from clinical years, and 51.4% were females. The prevalence of alexithymia and depression was 47.4% and 88.9%, respectively. Regression analysis showed females had a doubled risk (OR = 2.09), and students with high-income status showed less probability of having alexithymia (OR = 0.39), whereas people with chronic health problems showed a doubled risk for alexithymia (OR = 2.04). Moreover, depression was significantly associated with alexithymia (OR = 1.91). Our study revealed that the prevalence of alexithymia was high along with depression among studied samples. This raises attention towards finding measures to reduce it for the better performance of students and to avoid psychological problems in the future.
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Proença Lopes C, Allado E, Essadek A, Poussel M, Henry A, Albuisson E, Hamroun A, Chenuel B. Occurrence of Alexithymia and Its Association with Sports Practice from a Sample of University Students: Results from a French Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10050788. [PMID: 35627924 PMCID: PMC9141175 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10050788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of alexithymia in a sample of university students and to determine its association with specific sports practice characteristics (competition and training). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, anthropometric data and characteristics of sport practice were collected, as well as level of alexithymia (Toronto Alexithymia Scale, (TAS-20)). Results: The study included 253 French university students who completed a questionnaire specifying their regular sports practice and level of alexithymia (TAS-20). We found 76 subjects (30%) who had proven alexithymia and 92 (36.4%) who were borderline alexithymic. A significant positive relationship between alexithymia and the weekly amount of training practice was observed. It should be noted that students who engage in more than 5 h of physical activity are more prone to be borderline or alexithymic (respectively, 19.6 and 19.7% versus 7.1% for non-alexithymics; p = 0.03). Conclusion: With a 30% frequency, alexithymia is more prevalent in this context than in the general population. Furthermore, alexithymia and borderline alexithymia are most favorably associated with higher physical activity (over 5 h per week).
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Proença Lopes
- Development, Adaptation and Disadvantage, Cardiorespiratory Regulations and Motor Control (EA 3450 DevAH), University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France; (E.A.); (M.P.); (B.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-6-12-21-87-42
| | - Edem Allado
- Development, Adaptation and Disadvantage, Cardiorespiratory Regulations and Motor Control (EA 3450 DevAH), University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France; (E.A.); (M.P.); (B.C.)
- Center of Sports Medicine and Adapted Physical Activity, CHRU-Nancy, University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - Aziz Essadek
- INTERPSY (EA 4432), University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France;
| | - Mathias Poussel
- Development, Adaptation and Disadvantage, Cardiorespiratory Regulations and Motor Control (EA 3450 DevAH), University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France; (E.A.); (M.P.); (B.C.)
- Center of Sports Medicine and Adapted Physical Activity, CHRU-Nancy, University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France
| | - Audrey Henry
- Cognition, Health and Society Laboratory, University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, 51571 Reims, France;
| | - Eliane Albuisson
- Institut Elie-Cartan de Lorraine, CNRS, Université de Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France;
| | - Aghilès Hamroun
- Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, Health Economics and Prevention, Regional and University Hospital Center of Lille, Lille University, 59000 Lille, France;
| | - Bruno Chenuel
- Development, Adaptation and Disadvantage, Cardiorespiratory Regulations and Motor Control (EA 3450 DevAH), University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France; (E.A.); (M.P.); (B.C.)
- Center of Sports Medicine and Adapted Physical Activity, CHRU-Nancy, University of Lorraine, 54000 Nancy, France
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The relationship between blood pressure regulation and alexithymia variability in newly diagnosed essential hypertension patients. JOURNAL OF SURGERY AND MEDICINE 2021. [DOI: 10.28982/josam.819228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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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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Chaturvedi SK, Desai G, Alzahrani SH. Comment on Alzahrani et al. "Prevalence of alexithymia and associated factors among medical students at King Abdulaziz University: a cross-sectional study". Ann Saudi Med 2020; 40:354. [PMID: 32757985 PMCID: PMC7410217 DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2020.354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Santosh K Chaturvedi
- From the Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health And NeuroSciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
| | - Geetha Desai
- From the Department of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health And NeuroSciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India
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Kashoo FZ, Alharbi RA, Aloyuni S, Mehrunnisha A, Alzahrani SH. Comments on "Prevalence of alexithymia and associated factors among medical students at King Abdulaziz University: a cross-sectional study". Ann Saudi Med 2020; 40:260-261. [PMID: 32493046 PMCID: PMC7270625 DOI: 10.5144/0256-4947.2020.260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Faizan Zaffar Kashoo
- From the Department of Physical Therapy and Health Rehabilitation, Majmaah University College of Applied Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Raed Abdullah Alharbi
- From the Department of Public Health, Majmaah University College of Applied Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Aloyuni
- From the Department of Public Health, Majmaah University College of Applied Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Mehrunnisha
- From the Department of Nursing, Majmaah University College of Applied Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sami H Alzahrani
- Director of Health Promotion Center, Assistant Professor, Consultant, Family Medicine Department, Medical College, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
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