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KMID : 1007420130110020091
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Mood and Emotion
2013 Volume.11 No. 2 p.91 ~ p.96
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Alexithymia Mediates Relationships between Attachment Insecurity and Depression among Undergraduate Students
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Lee Woo-Kyeong
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Abstract
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Objectives : According to attachment theory, the linkage between attachment insecurities and psychopathology is mediated several pathways. One of these pathways is alexithymia. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediation effects of alexithymia in the relatinship between attachment insecurity and depression.
Methods : Subjects included 613 (male 115, female 498) counseling psychology major undergraduate students. Alexithymia was assessed using the 20-item Korean version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS). Attachment insecurity was assessed using Experiences Close Relationship Revised (ECR-R), comprising two subscales that assess individual differences in trait attachment avoidance and anxiety in close relationship. Level of depressive feeling was assessed using the 21-item Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used for data analysis.
Results : Hierarchical regression analysis showed that alexithymia partially mediated the relationship between attachment insecurity and depression among adult undergraduate students. These findings strongly support the view that alexithymia is an important transmission mechanism between attachment insecurity and depression.
Conclusion : From a clinical point of view, these results support the notion that attention should be paid to attachment insecurity and alexithymia in depression treatment. Especially, an emphasis on visceral emotional experiencing, identifying, and expressing may be a vital component in effective depression treatment.
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KEYWORD
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Attachment insecurity, Alexithymia, Depression
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