THE RELATIONSHIP OF ALEXITHYMIA WITH TYPE D PERSONALITY AND GENERAL HEALTH.

Disturbance of the experience, expression of emotions, difficulty in identifying and describing feelings (Alexithymia), negative affectivity, social inhibition (Type-D personality) may influence general health. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship and predictability general health through alexithymia and Type-D personality.

Materials & Methods: This descriptive correlation study included 431 samples (193 boys, 238 girls) that were selected through random stratified sampling from Urmia University students and assessed by research instruments: General Health Questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Type-D Personality Scale. Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results: The findings showed that there is a significant relationship between alexithymia and Type-D personality subscales: negative affectivity (r= 0.39, p<0.01), and social inhibition (r=0.44, p< 0.01). There was also significant positive relationship between alexithymia with subscals general health: somatic symptom (r= 0.27, p<0.01), anxiety (r=0.31, p<0.01), social dysfunction (r= 0.34, p<0.01), and depression (r=0.33, p<0.01). Of all research variables, negative affectivity and difficulty identifying feelings were able to predict 36 percent of the variance of general health.

Conclusion: Results of the present study show that individuals with scoring high on alexithymia have poor general health. The relation between alexithymia with negative affectivity can be explained the observed alexithymia-health relationship.