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

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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

DOI 10.1037/a0027314

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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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“, 2013)–are associated with increased levels of alexithymia that continue into adulthood (Kench and Irwin, 2000; Kooiman et al., 2004; Bermond et al., 2008; Aust et al., 2013).”
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Authors: Aust, S., Härtwig, E. A., Heuser, I., & Bajbouj, M.
ORCID: Aust, Sabine
Heuser, Isabella
Bajbouj, Malek
Venue: Psychological Trauma Theory Research Practice and Policy
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2013-05
Volume: 5
Issue: 3
Pages: 225-232
ISSN: 1942-9681 (ISSN-L)
1942-969X
DOI: 10.1037/a0027314
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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The role of early emotional neglect in alexithymia

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