Alexithymia, attachment security and negative mood

Objective Alexithymia, a trait dimension defined by difficulties identifying and describing feelings an externally oriented thinking style, is often associated with negative moods such as depression, anxiety stress well insecure adult attachment style. The present study evaluated the hypothesis that link between alexithymia mediated attachment, which implies lack of social resources for coping distress.Method A nonclinical online community sample 206 male female young adults recruited from throughout Australia completed validated measures alexithymia, security moods.Results In hierarchical regression model demographic variables socially desirable responding at step 1, 2 3, final accounted 62.4% variance in moods, significant predictors. Bootstrapped mediation modelling, controlling responding, indicated partial association attachment.Conclusions Results point to role presumably addition deficient emotional self-regulation alexithymia.KEY POINTS What already known about this topic: Alexithymia maladaptive coping.Alexithymia styles.Alexithymia loneliness interpersonal difficulties.What topic adds:Insecure moods.This suggests alexithymia.Therapy alexithymic clients may thus benefit targeting but replication needed clinical samples.