Cited by 134Psychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsChild Abuse and TraumaPsychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research

The role of early emotional neglect in alexithymia

Aust, Sabine, Härtwig, Elif Alkan, Heuser, Isabella, Bajbouj, Malek·2013·Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy

Abstract

Alexithymia is a personality trait associated with difficulties in identifying and communicating personal feelings. It is shown to be a risk factor for affective disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated the co-occurrence of alexithymia and early life stress in clinical samples; however, research in the absence of psychological and somatic disorders rarely exists. We therefore investigated alexithymia and early life stress in a high alexithymic but healthy community sample (n 46) in comparison with low alexithymic healthy subjects (n 44). Alexithymia was assessed by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and BermondVorst Alexithymia Questionnaire. Emotional functioning was also measured using the Emotional Experience Scales. Early life stress was assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Early Trauma Inventory. There was a significantly positive correlation between alexithymia and early emotional neglect (EN) in the total sample (r .37; p .001), while physical or sexual traumata were not associated with high alexithymic features. EN also predicted the overall level of alexithymia. Within the high alexithymic group only, EN was related to significantly increased emotional dysfunction when controlling for alexithymia. The results show a first indication of differentiation between a “neglect” and a “nonneglect” subtype of alexithymia. We therefore conclude that EN should be taken into account in future studies on psychological functioning in alexithymia.

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Crossref · 10.1037/a0027314

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  • Increased rates of alexithymia in adulthood have been associated with negative childhood experiences such as physical or sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and poor family expressiveness.

    “increased rates of alexithymia in adulthood have been associated with a number of negative experiences in childhood, such as physical or sexual abuse, emotional neglect, and poor family expressiveness (Aust et al., 2013; Berenbaum, 1996; Kench and Irwin, 2000).”

    From Atypical interoception as a common risk factor for psychopathology: A review (2021) · cites this paper as Aust et al., 2013

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Authors
Aust, S., Härtwig, E. A., Heuser, I., & Bajbouj, M.
Venue
Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy
Published
2013-05
Volume
5
Issue
3
Pages
225-232
ISSN
  • 1942-9681 (ISSN-L)
  • 1942-969X
OpenAlex
W2327624888
Cited by
134
References
53
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 15 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 8 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 4
FWCI
4.10
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy (publishedVersion)
Funders
German Research Foundation (DFG, EXC302)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child Abuse and Trauma
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
Keywords
alexithymia, early life stress, childhood trauma, emotional functioning, emotional dysregulation, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire

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