title: Alexithymia and eating disorder symptoms in adolescents.
abstract: An increasing amount of evidence indicates an association between alexithymia and eating disorder symptoms. This possible association was evaluated in a non-clinical sample of late adolescents. Seven hundred and twenty nine adolescents completed the questionnaire and formed the final sample. Alexithymia was measured using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and eating disorder symptoms were assessed using the SCOFF questionnaire. The rate of alexithymia was 8.2%, without any gender difference. The mean SCOFF scores differed significantly between alexithymic and non-alexithymic subjects, and the share of SCOFF positive subjects was significantly higher among alexithymics. The results suggest that eating disorder symptoms are more common in alexithymic adolescents.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
authors.forename: Max
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karukivi
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hautala
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Korpelainen
authors.forename: Kirsi-Maria
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Haapasalo-Pesu
authors.forename: Pirjo-Riitta
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Liuksila
authors.forename: Matti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joukamaa
authors.forename: Simo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saarijarvi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult