Age is strongly associated with alexithymia in the general population

✍ Scribed by Aino K. Mattila; Jouko K. Salminen; Tapio Nummi; Matti Joukamaa

• Book ID: 116692541
• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2006
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 118 KB
• Volume: 61
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0022-3999
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2006.04.013

✦ Synopsis

Objective:

We studied the prevalence of alexithymia, its distribution in different age groups in a wide age range, its association with sociodemographic and health-related variables, and its co-occurrence with depression.

Methods:

The study forms part of the health 2000 study. the original sample comprised 8028 subjects representing the general adult population of finland. alexithymia was measured with the 20-item toronto alexithymia scale (tas-20), and depression was measured with the 21-item beck depression inventory. altogether, 5454 participants filled in tas-20 in their mother tongue.

Results:

The prevalence of alexithymia was 9.9%. men (11.9%) were more commonly alexithymic than women (8.1%). alexithymia was associated with male gender, increasing age, low educational level, poor perceived health, and depression.

Conclusions:

The findings were in line with earlier population studies. for the first time, it was possible to analyze the prevalence of alexithymia in a wide age range (30-97 years). international comparative studies are needed.