THE RELATIONSHIP OF ALEXITHYMIA WITH TYPE D PERSONALITY AND GENERAL HEALTH

Disturbance of the experience, expression of emotions, difficulty in identifying and describing feelings (Alexithymia), negative affectivity, social inhibition (Type-D personality) may influence general health. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship and predictability general health through alexithymia and Type-D personality. This descriptive correlation study included 431 samples (193 boys, 238 girls) that were selected through random stratified sampling from Urmia University students and assessed by research instruments: General Health Questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, and Type-D Personality Scale. Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The findings showed that there is a significant relationship between alexithymia and Type-D personality subscales: negative affectivity (r= 0.39, p<0.01), and social inhibition (r=0.44, p< 0.01). There was also significant positive relationship between alexithymia with subscals general health: somatic symptom (r= 0.27, p<0.01), anxiety (r=0.31, p<0.01), social dysfunction (r= 0.34, p<0.01), and depression (r=0.33, p<0.01). Of all research variables, negative affectivity and difficulty identifying feelings were able to predict 36 percent of the variance of general health. Results of the present study show that individuals with scoring high on alexithymia have poor general health. The relation between alexithymia with negative affectivity can be explained the observed alexithymia-health relationship.