The Structural Pattern of the Relationship between Negative Emotional Schemas and Somatic Symptoms by Mediating Alexithymia and Emotional Expressiveness

Somatic symptoms and physical complaints (palpitations, dizziness, etc.) make a significant part of admittances to health centers. Therefore, identifying the mechanisms and their etiology is of very high importance. Clinical observations over the past two centuries have linked these symptoms with emotions. The purpose of this study was to investigate the etiology of somatic symptoms based on negative emotional schemas by mediating alexithymia and emotional expressiveness  The method used in this research was correlation. The research sample consisted of 440 female undergraduate and postgraduate students at Khomeini Shahr Azad University who were selected using the convenience sampling method. The members completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Emotional Expressiveness Questionnaire (EEQ), Somatic Symptom Disorder-B Criteria Scale (SSD-12) and Leahy Emotional Schemas Scale (LESS). The data was analyzed using structural equation modeling with SPSS and LISREL softwers. Based on the results, the hypothesized model has an appropriate fit with the data. The path of negative emotional schemas,emotional expressiveness (total effect: -0.269.P<0.001) and the path of emotional expressiveness, somatic symptoms (total effect: -0.346.P<0.001) is negative and significant. Also, the path of negative emotional schemas ,alexithymia (total effect: 0.358.P<0.001) and the path of alexithymia , somatic symptoms (total effect: 0.356.P<0.001) is positive and significant. the path of negative emotional schemas ,somatic symptoms (direct effect: 0.266. P<0.001) is positive and significant. According to the results of structural equations, negative emotional schemas had a significant effect on somatic symptoms through alexithymia and emotional expressiveness. (Indirect effect: 0.221. P<0.001) Research shows that emotional schemas, in addition to the direct effect on somatic symptoms, can also be influenced by alexithymia and emotional expressiveness. Therefore, the results of this study can be used in preventing, understanding the underlying causes and mechanisms for pathology, and treatment of somatic symptoms.