title: Alexithymia and interpersonal problems.
abstract: This study examines whether alexithymia relates to specific interpersonal problems, based on data collected in a sample of mental health outpatients (N = 404) and a student sample (N = 157). Linear regression analysis, in which the effects of group, gender, and age were controlled, indicated that two interpersonal problems were significantly and reliably related to alexithymia: cold/distant and nonassertive social functioning. The theoretical relevance of the results for attachment and psychoanalytic theory is indicated, as well as implications of the findings for clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychoanalysis and Clinical Consulting, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium. Stijn.Vanheule@UGent.be
authors.forename: Stijn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vanheule
authors.forename: Mattias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Desmet
authors.forename: Reitske
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meganck
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bogaerts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D001530:Belgium; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011575:Psychoanalytic Therapy; D011594:Psychometrics; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012919:Social Behavior