Alexithymia and interpersonal problems

The aim of this study was to examine the relations between alexithymia and interpersonal problems in a sample of students. A correlational analysis was performed to assess the kind of association exist among alexithymia and its three components including difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally oriented thinking with interpersonal problems and its subscales including assertiveness, sociability, submissiveness, intimacy, responsibility, and controlling. Three hundred and fifty seven students (147 boys, 210 girls) from the University of Tehran were included in this study. All participants were asked to complete Farsi version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (FTAS-20) and Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP). Analysis of the data involved both descriptive and inferential statistics including means, standard deviations, multivariate analysis of variance, pearson's correlation coefficients and regression analysis. Alexithymia showed a significant positive association with interpersonal problems. Results of regression analysis revealed that componenets of alexithymia can predict the student's interpersonal problems regarding assertiveness, sociability, intimacy, and responsibility. It can be concluded that alexithymia is associated with interpersonal problems. Results and implications are discussed.