Stability of alexithymia is low from adolescence to young adulthood, and the consistency of alexithymia is associated with symptoms of depression and dissociation

Virve Kekkonen; Siiri-Liisi Kraav; Jukka Hintikka; Petri Kivimäki; Outi Kaarre; Tommi Tolmunen

doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110629

Stability of alexithymia is low from adolescence to young adulthood, and the consistency of alexithymia is associated with symptoms of depression and dissociation

J Psychosom Res. 2021 Nov:150:110629. doi: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110629. Epub 2021 Sep 25.

Authors

Virve Kekkonen¹, Siiri-Liisi Kraav², Jukka Hintikka³, Petri Kivimäki⁴, Outi Kaarre⁵, Tommi Tolmunen⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland, University Hospital, P.O. Box 200, FI-70029 Kuopio, Finland; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland, Kuopio Campus, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: virve.kekkonen@kuh.fi.
² Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland, Kuopio Campus, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland, Joensuu Campus, P.O. Box 111, FI-80101 Joensuu, Finland. Electronic address: siiril@student.uef.fi.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Päijät-Häme Central Hospital, Finland, Keskussairaalankatu 7, FI-15850 Lahti, Finland; Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, University of Tampere, Finland, Kalevantie 4, FI-33100 Tampere, Finland. Electronic address: jukka.hintikka@phhyky.fi.
⁴ Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland, Kuopio Campus, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; City of Helsinki, Pitäjänmäki Health Station, P.O. Box 6650, FI-00370 Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: petri.kivimaki@hel.com.
⁵ Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland, Kuopio Campus, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland; Forensic Psychiatry Clinic of the University of Eastern Finland, Niuvanniemi Hospital, Finland, Niuvankuja 65, FIN-70240 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: outi.kaarre@niuva.fi.
⁶ Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland, University Hospital, P.O. Box 200, FI-70029 Kuopio, Finland; Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Finland, Kuopio Campus, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: tommi.tolmunen@kuh.fi.

PMID: 34598049
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2021.110629

Abstract

Background: The aims of this study were to investigate the stability of alexithymia from adolescence to young adulthood, as well as the association between alexithymia, peer relationships, and symptoms of depression and dissociation.

Methods: The participants (n = 755, aged 13-18 years) were assessed with self-rated questionnaires and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) at baseline in 2005 and on follow-up in 2011.

Results: The changes in the TAS-20 total score (t = -12.26) and the scores for its subscales, difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) (t = -4.04), difficulty describing feelings (DDF) (t = -5.10), and externally oriented thinking (EOT) (t = -18.23), were statistically significant (p < 0.001). Effect sizes (Cohen's d) for the change indicating absolute stability were small for DIF (-0.15) and DDF (-0.19), medium for TAS-20 total (-0.45), and large for EOT (-0.66) scores. Moderate correlations in test-retests with Spearman's ρ (TAS-20 total 0.46, DIF 0.41, DDF 0.39, EOT 0.43) indicated relative stability, whereas low intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) (respectively 0.41, 0.39, 0.37, 0.37) indicated poor reliability of test-retests. In regression analyses, poor relationships with peers, loneliness, and symptoms of depression and dissociation at baseline associated with alexithymia at baseline and on follow-up. Unlike EOT, increases in the TAS-20 total, DIF, and DDF scores during the 6-year follow-up associated with baseline symptoms of depression and dissociation.

Conclusions: Alexithymia in adolescence is not always a reliable predictor of alexithymia in young adulthood. Mental health symptoms appear to affect the consistency of alexithymia during adolescent development.

Keywords: Alexithymia; Depression; Development; Dissociative disorders; Loneliness; Youth.

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
Affective Symptoms* / diagnosis
Depression* / diagnosis
Emotions
Humans
Reproducibility of Results
Surveys and Questionnaires
Young Adult