The effect of alexithymic characteristics on perceived stress and health anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci
; 25(22): 7127-7134, 2021 Nov.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1552079
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
The anxiety of life that comes with the pandemic process increases the health anxiety and the level of perceived stress. However, there are uncertainties about which individuals are more sensitive. This study aims to investigate the effects of alexithymic characteristics on health anxiety and perceived stress. MATERIALS ANDMETHODS:
The authors invited the participants to study via social media and e-mail. The data of 793 individuals, aged 18-65, collected over the internet (Google Forms) between November and December 2020 were statistically evaluated. Evaluations were made with the sociodemographic data form, the General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12), the Health Anxiety Scale (HAS), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS).RESULTS:
In mediation analyzes between TAS subscales and HAS, Difficulty in Identifying Feelings (DIF) most strongly predicted HAS (B=0.469, p<0.001) and indirectly affected HAS only through GHQ (CS 0.08, B=0.108, SE0.021, CI 0.070, 0.153). However, both PSS (CS 0.0128, B=0.084, SE0.027, CI 0.032, 0.139) and GHQ (CS 0.02, B=0.139, SE0.028, CI 0.090, 0.198) played a mediating role between Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF) and HAS.CONCLUSIONS:
The present study suggests that individuals with alexithymic features are more sensitive to stress during periods of health-related increased stress, such as pandemics, and that individuals with alexithymic features should be given priority in psychotherapeutic interventions.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Anxiety Disorders
/
Affective Symptoms
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Diagnostic study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci
Journal subject:
Pharmacology
/
Toxicology
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Eurrev_202111_27266
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