ABSTRACT
To study alexithymia among mothers with disabled children in Saudi Arabia, and to explore if alexithymia is associated to their mood difficulties, and certain demographic variables. We conducted a prospective study during January 2011 to April 2012, on 86 mothers [study group] caring for children with physical, mental, or sensory disabilities treated at a major tertiary rehabilitation hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A total of 32 mothers [control group] with healthy children were also included. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS] was used to measure the mood symptoms of mothers. The Toronto Alexithymia Scale [TAS-20] was administered to assess the degree of alexithymia. The demographic data of mothers and children were also collected. The mean age of children with a disability was 5.6. +/- 3.1, and for healthy children was 6.3 +/- 3.7 [range 1-14] years. The mean age of mothers in the study group [n=86] was 33.9 +/- 6.1, and in the control group [n=32] was 35.2 +/- 7.3 years. Mothers of children with disabilities had a significantly higher degree of alexithymia [p=0.001] and a significantly higher mean score of HADS-anxiety [p=0.042] and HADS depression [p=0.021]. Alexithymia had a significant correlation with mother's depression [p=0.0001] and anxiety [p=0.0001]. No significant correlations were found between alexithymia and child's age [p=0.303], duration of disability [p=0.0941], and mother's age [p=0.235]. Mothers caring for disabled children have higher features of alexithymia, and this is correlated to their elevated mood problems. Clinical implications are discussed