Alexithymia and the Anxiety Factor in Adolescents

Abstract

Aim. To study the level of alexithymia and anxiety in adolescents depending on age and gender, to identify relationships.
 Materials and methods. A survey of clinically healthy adolescents was carried out using the Toronto alexithymic scale (TAS-26) and the scale of situational and personal anxiety Ch.D. Spielberger – Yu. L. Khanin.
 Results. Among practically healthy adolescents, over 60% have signs of alexithymia, and half of them are adolescents with a pronounced level of alexithymia. “Vulnerable” for alexithymia are adolescent girls, and by age - younger adolescents. For practically healthy students, the normal level of situational and personal anxiety is natural. With an increase in the symptoms of alexithymia, the presence of high situational and personal anxiety in adolescents is characteristic. A positive correlation was found between the level of alexithymia and the degree of situational (r=0.40; p<0.001; n=507) and personal (r=0.35; p<0.001; n=507) anxiety.
 Conclusion. Dentification among adolescents of a group of individuals with a risk of developing alexithymia and the presence of signs of alexithymia, with an altered level of situational and personal anxiety, will allow for early prevention and necessary therapeutic interventions.