The Mediator Role of Empathy and Emotional Intelligence in the Relationship between Alexithymia and Emotional Expression Styles

Year 2024, Volume: 11 Issue: 1, 93 - 114, 31.01.2024

Yavuz Yılmaz , Ayla Uzun Cicek , Mehmet Kanak , Erdi Bahadır , Esra Gültürk

https://doi.org/10.31682/ayna.1255194

Abstract

Although there are studies on the effect of alexithymia on expressed emotion, emotion expression in people with alexithymia was not specifically examined. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and emotional expression styles and whether emotional intelligence and empathy mediate this relationship. A total of 254 teacher candidates were evaluated using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Empathy Quotient Scale, Trait Emotional Intelligence Questionnaire, and Emotional Expression Styles Inventory. We performed the analyses using structural equation models. Our results revealed that alexithymia indirectly affected the expression style of happiness and sadness emotions negatively and emotional intelligence and empathy played a mediator role in this effect of alexithymia. Also, an indirect positive relationship was identified between alexithymia and anger expression style, and it was found that this relationship was mediated by emotional intelligence. Accordingly, emotional expression styles were also related to other variables. The present study also determined that alexithymia level was significantly and negatively correlated with emotional intelligence and empathy levels. This is the first study to reveal that alexithymia is related to emotional expression styles and that emotional intelligence and empathy also have mediator roles in emotional expression styles. expression styles were also related to other variables.

Keywords

Alexithymia, emotion expression styles, emotional intelligence, empathy

Aleksitimi ve Duygusal İfade Tarzları Arasındaki İlişkide Empati ve Duygusal Zekanın Aracı Rolü

Abstract

Aleksitiminin duygu ifade etme üzerindeki etkisine yönelik çalışmalar olmasına rağmen, aleksitimisi olan bireylerde duygu ifade biçimleri özel olarak incelenmemiştir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, aleksitimi ile duygu ifade biçimleri arasındaki ilişkiyi ve duygusal zeka ile empatinin bu ilişkiye aracılık edip etmediğini incelemektir. Toronto Aleksitimi Ölçeği, Empati Bölüm Ölçeği, Özellikli Duygusal Zeka Ölçeği ve Duygusal İfade Tarzları Envanteri kullanılarak toplam 254 öğretmen adayı değerlendirilmiştir. Analizler, yapısal eşitlik modelleri kullanarak gerçekleştirilmiştir. Bulgularımız, aleksitiminin mutluluk ve üzüntü duygularının ifade biçimini dolaylı olarak olumsuz etkilediğini ve aleksitiminin bu etkisinde duygusal zeka ve empatinin aracı rol oynadığını ortaya koymuştur. Ayrıca aleksitimi ile öfke ifade tarzı arasında dolaylı pozitif bir ilişki tespit edilmiş ve bu ilişkiye duygusal zekanın aracılık ettiği bulunmuştur. Buna göre duygu ifade biçimleri, diğer değişkenlerle de ilişkilidir. Bu çalışmada ayrıca aleksitimi düzeyi ile duygusal zeka düzeyi ve empati düzeyi arasında anlamlı bir negatif ilişki olduğu saptanmıştır. Bu çalışma, aleksitiminin duygu ifade tarzları ile ilişkili olduğu ve duygusal zeka ve empatinin de duygusal ifade tarzlarında aracı rolü olduğunu ortaya koyan ilk çalışmadır.

Keywords

Aleksitimi, duygu ifade tarzları, duygusal zeka, empati

References

• Allan, E., Rienecke, R. D., & Hughes, E. K. (2021). Assessment of expressed emotion. In R. D. Rienecke, D., & Le Grange (Eds.), Eating disorders and expressed emotion: Integrating treatment, intervention, and a positive family environment (pp. 58–75). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429429484-4
• Antoñanzas, J. L. (2017). The relationship between psychopathology and emotional intelligence in adolescents and adults. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 237(2) 1093-1096. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2017.02.161
• Araz, A., & Erkus, A. (2014). Conceptualizing and Measurement of Emotional Expression Styles: An Inventory Development Study. Türk Psikoloji Dergisi, 29(74), 50-65.
• Bagby, R. M., Parker, J. D., & Taylor, G. J. (1994) The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale--I. Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38(1), 23–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3999(94)90005-1
• Berenbaum, H., & Irvin, S. (1996). Alexithymia, anger, and interpersonal behavior. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 65(4), 203–208. https://doi.org/10.1159/000289076
• Cameron, L. D., & Overall, N. C. (2018). Suppression and expression as distinct emotion-regulation processes in daily interactions: Longitudinal and meta-analyses. Emotion, 18(4), 465–480. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000334
• Cordaro, D. T., Sun, R., Keltner, D., Kamble, S., Huddar, N., & McNeil, G. (2018). Universals and cultural variations in 22 emotional expressions across five cultures. Emotion, 18(1), 75–93. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000302
• da Silva, A. N., Vasco, A. B., & Watson, J. C. (2017). Alexithymia and Emotional Processing: A Mediation Model. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 73(9), 1196–1205. https://doi.org/10.1002/jclp.22422
• Deniz, M. E., Özer, E. ve Işık, E. (2013). Duygusal Zekâ Özelliği Ölçeği–Kısa Formu: Geçerlik ve güvenirlik çalışması. Eğitim ve Bilim, 38(169), 407-419.
• Di Lorenzo, R., Venturelli, G., Spiga, G., & Ferri, P. (2019). Emotional intelligence, empathy and alexithymia: a cross-sectional survey on emotional competence in a group of nursing students. Acta bio-medica, 90(4-S), 32–43. https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v90i4-S.8273
• Epözdemir, H. (2012). Aleksitimi: Psikolojik Bir Semptom Mu, Yoksa Bir Kişilik Özelliği Mi? Türk Psikoloji Yazıları, 15(30), 25-33.
• Evren, C., Cinar, O., Evren, B., Umut, G., Can, Y., & Bozkurt, M. (2015). Relationship between alexithymia and aggression in a sample of men with substance dependence. Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni, 25(3), 233–42. https://doi.org/10.5455/bcp.20130408020445
• Fernández-Abascal, E. G., & Martín-Díaz, M. D. (2019). Relations Between Dimensions of Emotional Intelligence, Specific Aspects of Empathy, and Non-verbal Sensitivity. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1066. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01066
• Gómez-Leal, R., Costa, A., Megías-Robles, A., Fernández-Berrocal, P., & Faria, L. (2021). Relationship between emotional intelligence and empathy towards humans and animals. PeerJ, 9, e11274. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.11274
• Grynberg, D., Berthoz, S., & Bird, G. (2018). Social and interpersonal implications of alexithymia. In O. Luminet, R. M. Bagby, & G. J. Taylor (Eds.), Alexithymia: Advances in research, theory, and clinical practice (pp. 174–189). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108241595.013
• Güleç, H., Köse, S., Güleç, Y.M., Çitak, S., Evren, C., Borckardt, J., & Sayar, K. (2009). Reliability and Factorial Validity of The Turkish Version of The 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Klinik Psikofarmakoloji Bülteni, 19(3), 214-220.
• Haviland, M. G., & Reise, S. P. (1996). A California Q-set alexithymia prototype and its relationship to ego-control and ego-resiliency. Journal of psychosomatic research, 41(6), 597–607. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3999(96)00223-1
• Hemming, L., Haddock, G., Shaw, J., & Pratt, D. (2019). Alexithymia and Its Associations With Depression, Suicidality, and Aggression: An Overview of the Literature. Frontiers in psychiatry, 10,203. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00203
• Hesse, C., & Floyd, K. (2008). Affectionate experience mediates the effects of alexithymia on mental health and interpersonal relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 25(5), 793-810. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407508096696
• Karaismailoğlu, D., Kulakaç, N., & Çilingir, D. (2021). Ameliyathane Hemşirelerinde Aleksitimi Düzeyi ve İletişim Becerilerine Etkisi: Doğu Karadeniz Örneği. Gümüşhane Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi, 10 (1), 81-87. https://doi.org/10.37989/gumussagbil.798966
• Kahramanol, B., & Dag, I. (2018). Psikolojik belirtilerin yordayıcıları olarak aleksitimi, öfke ve öfke ifade tarzları. Dusunen Adam The Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, 31(5), 30–39. https://doi.org/10.5350/DAJPN2018310103
• Kaya, B., & Çolakoğlu, Ö. M. (2015). Adaptation of empathy quotient (EQ) scale. İnönü University Journal of the Faculty of Education, 16(1), 17-30. https://doi.org/10.17679/iuefd.16127895
• Knobloch, L.K., & Metts, S. (2013). Emotion in Relationships. In Simpson JA, & Campbell L (Eds.), The Oxford Handbook of Close Relationships (pp. 281-305). Oxford University Press. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195398694.013.0023
• Korkmaz, E.K., Telli, S., Kadioglu, H., & Karaca, S. (2020). Alexithymia in nurses and its relationship with burnout, anger, and somatization. J Psy Nurs, 11(4), 284-291. https://doi.org/10.14744/phd.2020.98700
• Lane, R. D., Weihs, K. L., Herring, A., Hishaw, A., & Smith, R. (2015). Affective agnosia: Expansion of the alexithymia construct and a new opportunity to integrate and extend Freud's legacy. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 55,594-611. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.06.007
• Lane, T. (2019). Emotional Intelligence. Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 101(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1308/rcsann.2018.0209
• Lawrence, E. J., Shaw, P., Baker, D., Baron-Cohen, S., & David, A. S. (2004). Measuring empathy: reliability and validity of the Empathy Quotient. Psychological medicine, 34(5), 911–919. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291703001624
• Lyvers, M., Kohlsdorf, S. M., Edwards, M. S., & Thorberg, F. A. (2017). Alexithymia and Mood: Recognition of Emotion in Self and Others. The American Journal of Psychology, 130(1), 83–92. https://doi.org/10.5406/amerjpsyc.130.1.0083
• Motan, I., & Gençöz, T. (2007). Aleksitimi Boyutlarinin Depresyon ve Anksiyete Belirtileri ile Ilişkileri. Turk Psikiyatri Dergisi, 18(4), 333–343.
• Oktay, B., & Batıgun, A. (2014). Alexithymia: Attachment, self perception, interpersonal relationship style and anger. Turkish Psychological Articles, 17(33), 31-40.
• Páez, D., Velasco, C., & González, J. L. (1999). Expressive writing and the role of alexythimia as a dispositional deficit in self-disclosure and psychological health. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 77(3), 630–641. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.77.3.630
• Panayiotou, G., & Constantinou, E. (2017). Emotion dysregulation in alexithymia: Startle reactivity to fearful affective imagery and its relation to heart rate variability. Psychophysiology, 54(9), 1323–1334. https://doi.org/10.1111/psyp.12887
• Panayiotou, G. (2018). Alexithymia as a Core Trait in Psychosomatic and Other Psychological Disorders. In Charis C., Panayiotou G. (Eds.), Somatoform and Other Psychosomatic Disorders (pp. 89-106). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-89360-0_5
• Petrides, K. V., & Furnham, A. (2000). On the dimensional structure of emotional intelligence. Personality and Individual Differences, 29(2), 313-320 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0191-8869(99)00195-6
• Rasting, M., Brosig, B., & Beutel, M. E. (2005). Alexithymic characteristics and patient-therapist interaction: a video analysis of facial affect display. Psychopathology, 38(3), 105–111. https://doi.org/10.1159/000085772
• Riess, H. (2017). The Science of Empathy. Journal of Patient Experience, 4(2), 74–77. https://doi.org/10.1177/2374373517699267
• Roberton, T., Daffern, M., & Bucks, R. S. (2014). Maladaptive Emotion Regulation and Aggression in Adult Offenders. Psychology, Crime and Law, 20(10), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/1068316X.2014.893333
• Sanchez-Alvarez, N., Extremera, N., & Fernández-Berrocal, P. (2016). The Relation between Emotional Intelligence and Subjective Well-Being: A Meta-Analytic Investigation. The Journal of Positive Psychology, 11(3), 276-285. https://doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2015.1058968
• Sarabia-Cobo, C. M., Suárez, S. G., Menéndez Crispín, E. J., Sarabia Cobo, A. B., Pérez, V., de Lorena, P., Rodríguez Rodríguez, C., & Sanlúcar Gross, L. (2017). Emotional intelligence and coping styles: An intervention in geriatric nurses. Applied Nursing Research, 35, 94–98. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2017.03.001
• Schuetz, S., & Multon, K. D. (2017). The relationship of alexithymia, interpersonal problems and self-understanding to psychological distress in college students. North American Journal of Psychology, 19(1), 139–154.
• Sifneos P. E. (1996). Alexithymia: past and present. The American journal of psychiatry, 153(7 Suppl), 137–142. https://doi.org/10.1176/ajp.153.7.137
• Smyth, J. M., Anderson, C. F., Hockemeyer, J. R., & Stone, A. A. (2002). Emotional nonexpressiveness or avoidance interfere with writing about stressful life events? An analysis in patients with chronic illness. Psychology and Health, 17(5), 561–569.
• Solano, L., Donati, V., Pecci, F., Persichetti, S., & Colaci, A. (2003). Postoperative course after papilloma resection: effects of written disclosure of the experience in subjects with different alexithymia levels. Psychosomatic Medicine, 65(3), 477–484. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000035781.74170.f1
• Şener, Ö., & Köseoğlu, S. A. (2020). Aleksitimi Belirtileri Olan Üniversite Öğrencilerinin Duygu İfadeleri ve Spontanlıkları Üzerine Psikodramanın Etkisi. Yükseköğretim ve Bilim Dergisi, (2), 318-327. https://doi.org/10.5961/jhes.2020.393
• Temiz, Z. T. (2018). “Bir Sınıflandırma Çalışması: Aleksitimik Belirtiler ve Bağlanma Örüntüleri”. Medeniyet Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3(5), 21-42.
• Troisi, A., Delle Chiaie, R., Russo, F., Russo, M. A., Mosco, C., & Pasini, A. (1996). Nonverbal behavior and alexithymic traits in normal subjects. Individual differences in encoding emotions. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 184(9), 561–566. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005053-199609000-00008
• Valdespino, A., Antezana, L., Ghane, M., & Richey, J. A. (2017). Alexithymia as a Transdiagnostic Precursor to Empathy Abnormalities: The Functional Role of the Insula. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 2234. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02234
• Velotti, P., Garofalo, C., Callea, A., Bucks, R. S., Roberton, T., & Daffern, M. (2016). Exploring Anger Among Offenders: The Role of Emotion Dysregulation and Alexithymia. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 24(1), 128–138. https://doi.org/10.1080/13218719.2016.1164639
• Wagner, H., & Lee, V. (2008). Alexithymia and individual differences in emotional expression. Journal of Research in Personality, 42(1), 83-95. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2007.04.001