The relationship between alexithymia, defense mechanism, eating disorders anxiety and depression

Abstract Introduction: Research has investigated the role played by Alexithymia and Defense Mechanisms (DM) in disorders such as Anxiety, Depression and Eating Disorders (ED). The aim of this study is to verify if the DM mediate the relationship between Alexithymia, ED, Anxiety and Depression. Method: The 5 questionnaires were administered to 283 subjects aged between 18 and 49 years (M = 22.33, DS = 4.81). TAS-20 consist of 3 scales: Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF), Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF) and External-Oriented Thinking (EOT). DSQ consist of 4 scales: Maladaptive Style (MS), Image-distorting Style (IS), Self-sacrificing Style (SS) and Adaptive Style (AS). EDI-2, it is composed of many scales, we used two scales: General Psychological Maladjustment (GPM) and Eating Disorder Risk (EDR). Results: Path analysis was conducted to test a model with Alexithymia as predictor variable, DM as mediators, and ED, Anxiety and Depression as outcome. The saturated model was executed, subsequently, in according with common procedure to test the saturated model all nonsignificant paths were removed and several indices indicated that the data fit the final model, χ2(24) = 32.55; p = .11, CFI = .99, RMSEA = .04 (90% CI = .00 – .06). The results showed a significant path from DIF to MS (β = .46; p < .05), and SS (β = .16; p < .05), DDF was related to IS (β = .18; p < .05), while EOT was related with AS (β = -.18; p < .05). The results showed a significant path from MS (β = .34; p < .05), AS (β = -.12; p < .05), DIF (β = .30; p < .05), EOT (β = -.14; p < .05), to Anxiety and from MS (β = .44; p < .05), AS (β = -.13; p < .05), DIF (β = .26; p < .05) to Depression. Furthermore, there were a significant path from MS (β = .49; p < .05), AS (β = -.11; p < .05), DIF (β = .32; p < .05), to GPM. Moreover, there was a significant path from MS (β = .30; p < .05), to EDR. Conclusions: Results showed that Alexithymia has a role in the prediction of Anxiety, Depression and GPM through the effect of DM.