FeaturedEmotional ProcessingCross-sectional Study
Why is alexithymia a risk factor for affective disorder symptoms? The role of emotion regulation
Preece, D. A., Mehta, A., Becerra, R., Chen, W., Allan, A., Robinson, K., Boyes, M., Hasking, P., & Gross, J. J. (2022). Journal of Affective Disorders • 501 US adults
This study answers a key question: WHY does alexithymia lead to depression and anxiety? The answer: emotion regulation difficulties. Alexithymia doesn't directly cause mood problems—instead, it impairs people's ability to regulate their emotions, which then leads to affective symptoms.