The role of alexithymia and perceived stress in mental health responses to COVID-19: A conditional process model

Li, Ru; Kajanoja, Jani; Lindblom, Jallu; Korja, Riikka; Karlsson, Lena; Karlsson, Hasse; Nolvi, Saara; Karukivi, Max

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2022.03.024

Cited by 22 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“…One of the potential mechanisms underlying the associations between alexithymia and addictions may be HPA axis dysfunction in alexithymic individuals, which reflects problematic regulation of stress responses ( Alkan et al, 2013 ). Alexithymia was found to interact with perceived stress thus contributing to the development of stress-related mental health problems ( Li et al, 2022 ). It is suggested that alexithymia may function as defense mechanism and addictive behaviors as maladaptive strategies to buffer psychological distress ( Selfhout et al, 2009 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between alexithymia and food addiction: The Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale and preliminary test of its psychometric properties

Kajanoja²,

Tuulari³

et al. 2023

Front. Psychol.

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BackgroundIt has long been suggested that addictive behaviors are associated with alexithymia, a personality trait characterized by difficulties in emotional awareness and expression. However, little is known about the role of alexithymia in food addiction.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between alexithymia and food addiction. As part of the study, the validity of the Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS-F) was also investigated.MethodsThe sample consisted of 360 parents from the FinnBrain Birth Cohort Study. The structural validity of the YFAS-F was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was used to explore the structure when proposed models were not supported by CFA. The associations of alexithymia as measured by the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and food addiction were examined using regression analyses followed by structural equation modeling.ResultsHigher alexithymia was associated with more food addiction by conducting linear regression analysis (B = 0.013, p = 0.011) and structural equation modeling (β = 0.24, p < 0.001). Furthermore, a single-factor model for the 8 criteria of the YFAS-F was supported by CFA and showed acceptable internal reliability (KR-20 = 0.72), and a three-factor solution for the 20 items of the scale was suggested by EFA with good internal reliability (McDonald’s ω = 0.91 for the YFAS-F, 0.91 for component 1, 0.87 for component 2, and Spearman-Brown coefficient = 0.89 for component 3).ConclusionThe current study determined a significant relationship between alexithymia and food addiction, which suggests alexithymia as a relevant factor for food addiction and may provide clinical implications for interventions. Moreover, the YFAS-F appeared to be a valid and reliable tool to evaluate food addiction in our Finnish general population sample. Further studies on the psychometric properties of the YFAS-F in more diverse populations are recommended.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationships between alexithymia and food addiction: The Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale and preliminary test of its psychometric properties

Kajanoja²,

Tuulari³

et al. 2023

Front. Psychol.

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“…Researches have shown that the perception of stress is directly related to the individual's sleep quality, anxiety, depression and other symptoms [49][50][51]. The central symptom of depressive problems is PHQ4 "Fatigue", which means that providing some energetic activity or alleviating fatigue may help patients reducing depressive symptoms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Insomnia plays a key role in mental health problems of COVID-19 patients in Square Cabin Hospitals: a network analysis

Zhang

Sun

et al. 2023

Preprint

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Background: While the emergence of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has greatly affected the mental health and wellbeing of people everywhere, the core symptoms of common syndromes of psychological distress remain unclear, especially among COVID-19 patients who have been quarantined in Square Cabin Hospitals. Using the method of network analysis, the current study explored the relations between stress, depression, anxiety and insomnia symptoms among COVID-19 patients in Shanghai Four-Leaf Clover Cabin Hospital. Method: The study used an online survey to gauge the mental health issues of COVID-19 patients at Shanghai Four-Leaf Clover Cabin Hospital from April 18 to May 19, 2022. The Perceived Stress Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale, and Insomnia Severity Index were used to assess perceived stress symptoms, depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and insomnia symptoms, respectively. The central symptoms and bridge symptoms were determined using a regularized partial correlation network. Results: A total of 1014 patients was included in this study. Overall, 61.5%, 49.2% , and 56.1% of all patients reported symptoms of depressive, anxiety, and insomnia, respectively. “Distress caused by the sleep difficulties” had the highest expected influence, followed by “Excessive worry”, “Severity of sleep onset”, “Overburden”, “Uncontrollable worry”, “Trouble relaxing”, “Restlessness”. Seven bridge symptoms were identified: “Sad Mood”, “Severity of sleep onset”, “Sleep”, “Motor”, “Feeling afraid”, “Nervousness”, “Appetite”. In addition, significant differences in network global strength were found between women and men. Conclusions: Psychological distress was prevalent among COVID-19 patients and insomnia symptoms played a key role in the network of psychological distress symptoms. As a result, specific insomnia symptoms should be closely monitored as potential intervention targets in alleviating or preventing common, frequently co-occurring psychiatric syndromes.

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“…Individuals with high levels of perceived stress are often distressed; thus, they are likely to experience depressive symptoms 31 . Moreover, it has been reported that perceived stress is a complicated cognitive appraisal process influenced by many factors, and the most important factor may be the stressor 32 . Individuals who experiencing more stressors perceived higher levels of stress 32 .…”

Section: The Mediating Role Of Perceived Stressmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dyadic Associations Between Burden and Depressive Symptoms Among Patients With Heart Failure and Their Caregivers

Dong

Zhang

et al. 2023

J Cardiovasc Nurs

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Background Depressive symptoms are prevalent in patients with heart failure and their family caregivers. Given the interpersonal interactions between dyadic individuals with intimate relationship, it is essential to consider the dyads as a unit when exploring the factors associated with depressive symptoms in heart failure patient–caregiver dyads. Objective The aims of this study were to explore the dyadic effects of burden on depressive symptoms in heart failure patient–caregiver dyads and investigate whether perceived stress acts as a mediator in these relationships. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 237 heart failure patient–caregiver dyads were recruited from 3 hospitals in China between November 2018 and June 2019. Symptom burden, caregiving burden, perceived stress, and depressive symptoms were assessed using self-report questionnaires. The actor-partner interdependence model and actor-partner interdependence mediation model were used to analyze the data. Results Patients' symptom burden had an actor effect on their own depressive symptoms and a partner effect on their caregivers' depressive symptoms. Similarly, caregivers' caregiving burden had an actor effect on their own depressive symptoms and a partner effect on patients' depressive symptoms. The actor effects between burden and depressive symptoms were partially mediated by their own perceived stress in heart failure patient–caregiver dyads. Furthermore, the partner effect between caregivers' caregiving burden and patients' depressive symptoms was completely mediated by patients' perceived stress. Conclusions Patients' symptom burden and caregivers' caregiving burden aggravated their depressive symptoms by increasing their own perceived stress. Moreover, patients' symptom burden led to caregivers' depressive symptoms, and caregivers' caregiving burden contributed to patients' depressive symptoms through patients' perceived stress. These interdependent relationships suggest that dyadic interventions focused on reducing burden and perceived stress may be beneficial for relieving depressive symptoms in heart failure patient–caregiver dyads.

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The role of alexithymia and perceived stress in mental health responses to COVID-19: A conditional process model

Cited by 22 publications

References 80 publications

Relationships between alexithymia and food addiction: The Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale and preliminary test of its psychometric properties

Relationships between alexithymia and food addiction: The Finnish version of Yale Food Addiction Scale and preliminary test of its psychometric properties

Insomnia plays a key role in mental health problems of COVID-19 patients in Square Cabin Hospitals: a network analysis

Dyadic Associations Between Burden and Depressive Symptoms Among Patients With Heart Failure and Their Caregivers

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