Effect of Aerobic Exercise on the Levels of Pain, Quality of Life, and Alexithymia in Alexithymic Individuals With Chronic Pain: A Single-Blinded Randomized Controlled Trial

Using exploratory graph analysis (EGA) in validating the structure of the Perth alexithymia questionnaire in Iranians with chronic pain

“…The incapacity to acknowledge, undergo, and articulate emotions may result in diminished contentment with life, heightened stress and anxiety levels, and challenges in interpersonal connections ( Fresán et al, 2021 ). Misidentified or unexpressed emotions can exacerbate pain, diminish the efficacy of pain management strategies, and lead to further physical and psychological complexities ( Torlak et al, 2022 ). Furthermore, difficulties in emotional expression and empathizing with others’ viewpoints may diminish social interactions and foster sentiments of isolation and solitude in patients ( Saariaho et al, 2016 ).…”

“…GEOT, as a cognitive pattern, can compound the difficulties experienced by patients with CP ( Diotaiuti et al, 2021 ). This cognitive style often leads to a fixation on negative and unstable beliefs and ideas, which can detrimentally affect the perception and handling of pain ( Torlak et al, 2022 ). Individuals contending with CP may grapple with negative thoughts related to their pain experience, such as feelings of hopelessness, dissatisfaction, and mistrust, stemming from the persistent nature of their pain ( Di Tella et al, 2018 ).…”

“…The lack of emotional awareness inherent in alexithymia renders individuals more susceptible to stress, with CP often serving as a conduit through which emotions and stress-related sentiments manifest as physical symptoms ( Lankes et al, 2020 ). Those with elevated levels of alexithymia are predisposed to negative experiences due to challenges in emotional differentiation and their somatic expressions ( Torlak et al, 2022 ).…”