Cited by 86Psychosomatic Disorders and Their TreatmentsAnxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive ProcessesHeart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control

Alexithymia mediates the relationship between interoceptive sensibility and anxiety

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Palser, Eleanor R., Palmer, Clare E., Galvez-Pol, Alejandro, Hannah, Ricci, Fotopoulou, Aikaterini, Kilner, James M.·2018·PLOS ONE

Abstract

A number of empirical and theoretical reports link altered interoceptive processing to anxiety. However, the mechanistic understanding of the relationship between the two remains poor. We propose that a heightened sensibility for interoceptive signals, combined with a difficulty in attributing these sensations to emotions, increases an individual's vulnerability to anxiety. In order to investigate this, a large sample of general population adults were recruited and completed self-report measures of interoceptive sensibility, trait anxiety and alexithymia. Results confirmed that the positive association between interoceptive sensibility and trait anxiety was partially mediated by alexithymia, such that those most at risk for clinically significant levels of trait anxiety have both significantly higher levels of interoceptive sensibility and alexithymia. A subsequent factor analysis confirmed the independence of the three measures. Altered interoceptive processing in combination with alexithymia, increased the risk for anxiety above and beyond altered interoceptive processing alone. We suggest that a heightened sensibility for interoceptive signals, combined with a difficulty in attributing these sensations to emotions, leaves these sensations vulnerable to catastrophizing interpretation. Interventions that target the attribution of bodily sensations may prove valuable in reducing anxiety.

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Authors
Palser, E. R., Palmer, C. E., Galvez-Pol, A., Hannah, R., Fotopoulou, A., & Kilner, J. M.
Affiliations
  • University of London (GB)
  • University College London (GB)
Corresponding author
Palser, Eleanor R.
Venue
PLOS ONE
Published
2018-09-13
Volume
13
Issue
9
Pages
e0203212
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2891076048
Cited by
86
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 8 · 2025: 9 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 9 · 2019: 8
FWCI
6.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • UCL Discovery (University College London) (submittedVersion)
  • Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
  • Economic and Social Research Council (505674)
  • European Research Council (ERC-2012-STG GA313755)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Heart Rate Variability and Autonomic Control
Keywords
alexithymia, interoceptive sensibility, trait anxiety, mediation, interoception, bodily sensations, emotion attribution, catastrophizing, anxiety vulnerability
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Affective Symptoms, Aged, Anxiety, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Personality, Psychological Tests, Risk Factors, Young Adult, Interoception

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