Alexithymia, suicidal ideation and health-risk behaviours: a survey of Canadian men

International Journal of Psychiatry in Clinical Practice
David KealyJohn L Oliffe

Abstract

Restricted emotional abilities may present significant implications for men's health. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between alexithymia and several health-risk behaviours: substance misuse, aggressive and risky behaviours and suicidal ideation. A nationally representative sample of 1000 Canadian men responded to a survey containing measures of alexithymia, maladaptive coping behaviours, suicidal ideation and depressive symptoms. A series of hierarchical regressions were conducted using alexithymia as the predictor variable and each health-risk behaviour as the criterion variable, controlling for depressive symptom severity. Alexithymia was found to be significantly associated with drug use, alcohol use, angry/aggressive behaviour and risk-taking behaviour - as well as suicidal ideation - beyond the effects of depressive symptoms. The findings provide evidence for the link between alexithymia and several problematic behaviours that pose risks to men's health.

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Citations

Oct 8, 2017·Injury Prevention : Journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Prevention·James LachaudLaura Rosella
May 1, 2018·Early Intervention in Psychiatry·Simon M RiceJohn S Ogrodniczuk
Mar 3, 2021·Journal of Personality Disorders·Emily R EdwardsErin A Hazlett
Aug 24, 2021·Frontiers in Psychology·Marc A NordmannMatthias Franz

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