A structural model for predicting alexithymia based on early maladaptive schemas with the mediation of emotional self-disclosure

alexithymia means the inability to cognitively process information and regulate emotions, which is characterized by the clinical inability to identify emotions experienced by oneself or others. alexithymia is one of the factors affecting the incompatibility and interaction of couples, which has a negative effect on their interaction and compatibility, but there is a research gap in the field of predicting these schemas in the target society, so in this research, alexithymia is discussed based on Early maladaptive schemas in married people.

The purpose of this research was to present a structural model for predicting alexithymia based on Early maladaptive schemas with the mediation of emotional self-disclosure.

The method of descriptive research is correlation type using structural equations. The research population was all married women referred to counseling and assistance clinics in Robat Karim city for consensual divorce in the year 2019, and 200 people were selected by the available sampling method. In order to collect data, the Toronto Persian scale of alexithymia (Beshart, 2007), Early maladaptive schemas scale, short form of Yang (2003), and emotional self-disclosure scale (Snell, 2001) were used. In order to analyze the data, descriptive statistical methods and structural equations were used.

The results showed that emotional self-disclosure is mediating in the relationship between alexithymia and Early maladaptive schemas (p>0.05) and between alexithymia and Early maladaptive schemas. Considering emotional self-disclosure as a mediating factor, there is an indirect relationship.

The results of this research showed that there is a direct and meaningful relationship between Early maladaptive schemas and alexithymia, so that among the variables of Early maladaptive schemas, the variables of emotional deprivation, defectiveness/shame, dependency/Incompetence, Self-sacrifice and Entitlement/Grandiosity predict alexithymia and among the variables of emotional processing, the variable of weakened and suppressed emotions predicts alexithymia and generally, alexithymia in couples can be He predicted based on the mentioned variables. Therefore, these factors should be considered in prevention and treatment programs.