Alexithymia and Cognitive Schemas

Karolina Ginalska

Abstract


The article deals with the issue of emotional difficulties resulting from unfavorable events in early childhood. The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between the severity of alexithymia and the severity of disadaptive cognitive schemas. The research involved 79 people aged 20-45 years. The Polish adaptation of the Bermond–Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (ALEX-40) and an abridged version of the Young Schema Questionnaire (YSQ-3-PL) were used during the study. It was found that there are significant correlations between the symptoms characteristic of alexithymia and the intensity of some cognitive schemas. The dimension of verbalization of emotional sensations is significantly related to the person's manifestation of intensified schemas: emotional inhibition, following merciless norms, social isolation, emotional deprivation and a tendency to punish themselves. The dimension of verbalization of emotional sensations is significantly related to the person's manifestation of intensified schemas: emotional inhibition, following merciless norms, social isolation, emotional deprivation, and a tendency to inflict penalties on themselves. Correlations with the dimension of the degree of imagination formation and cognitive schemas are low and concern schemas of subordination, privilege/domination, insufficient self-control/discipline and pessimism.


Keywords


alexithymia; cognitive schemas; emotional difficulties

Full Text:

PDF

References


Bach, B., Lee, C., Mortensen, E.L., Simonsen, E. (2016). How do DSM-5 personality traits align with schema therapy construct? Journal of Personality Disorder, 30(4), 502-529. http://doi: 10.1521/pedi_2015_29_212.

Bach, B., Simonsen, E., Christoffersen. P., Kriston, L. (2017). The Young schema questionnaire 3 short form (YSQ-S3): Psychometric properties and association with personality disorders in a Danish mixed sample. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 33(2), 1340143.

Bamelis, L., Evers, S.M.A.A., Spinhoven, P., Arntz, A. (2014). Results of multicenter randomized controlled trial of the clinical effectiveness of schema therapy for personality disorders. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 171(3), 305–322. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2013.12040518

Blissett, J., Walsh, J., Harris, G., Jones, C., Leung, N., Meyer, C. (2006). Different core beliefs predict paternal and maternal attachment representation in young women. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 13(3),163-171.

Calvete, E., Orue, I., Hankin, B.L. (2013). Early maladaptive schemas and social anxiety in adolescents: The mediating role of anxious automatic thoughts. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 27, 278–288. doi:10.1016/j.janxdis.2013.02.011

Carton, J., Kessler, E., Pape, C. (1999). Nonverbal decoding skills and relationship well-being in adults. Journal of Nonverbal Behavior, 23, 91–100. doi:10.1023/A:1021339410262

Cecero, J.J., Nelson, J.D., Gillie, J.M. (2004). Tools and tenets of schema therapy: toword the construct validity of the early maladaptive schema questionnaire-research version (EMSQ-R). Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 11(5), 344-357.

Eid, P., Boucher, S. (2012). Alexithymia and dyadic adjustment in intimate relationships: analyses using the actor partner interdependence model. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 1095-1111.

Flangan, C. (2010). The case for needs in psychotherapy. Journal of Psychotherapy Integration, 20(1), 1-36.

Frawley, W., Smith, R.N. (2001). A processing theory of alexithymia. Cognitive Systems Research, 2, 189–206. doi:10.1016/S1389-0417(01)00029-8

Honkalampi, K., Hintikka, J., Laukkanem, E., Lehtonen, J., Viinamaki, H. (2001). Alexithymia and depression: A prospective study of patients with major depressive disorder. Psychosomatics, 42, 229–234. doi:10.1176/appi.psy.42.3.229

Honkalampi, K., Saarinem, P., Hintikka, J., Virtanen, V., Viinamaki, H. (1999). Factors associated with alexithymia in patients suffering from depression. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatic, 68, 270-275.

Irvin, H.J., Melbin-Helberg, E.B. (1997). Alexithymia and dissociative tendencies. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 2, 159–166.

Joukamaa, M., Saarijärvi, S., Muuriaisniemi, M.-L., Salokangas, R.K. (1996). Alexithymia in a normal elderly population. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 37(2), 144–147. doi:10.1016/S0010-440X(96)90576-3

Krystal, H. (1988). Integration and self-healing: affect, trauma, alexithymia. Hillsdale: NJ: Analytic Press.

Laforge, R., Leary, T.F., Naboisek, H., Coffey, H.S., Freedman, M.B. (1954). The interpersonal dimension of personality: II. An objective study of repression. Journal of Personality, 23, 129-153.

Lumley, M.A., Radcliffe, A.M., Macklem, D.J., Mosley-Williams, A.D., Leisen, J.C., Huffman, J.L., D’Souza, P.J., Gillis, M.E., Meyer, T., Kraft, C.A., Rapport, L.J. (2005). Alexithymia and pain in three chronic pain samples: Comparing Caucasians and African Americans. Pain Medicine, 6(3), 251–261.

Maruszewski, T., Zdankiewicz-Ścigała, E. (1998). Emocje – Aleksytymia – Poznanie. Poznań: Wydawnictwo Humaniora.

Mącik D. (2016). Wczesne nieadaptacyjne schematy Younga i ich związki z rysami zaburzeń osobowości w populacji nieklinicznej – badania wstępne. Psychiatria i Psychoterapia, 12(1), 3–24.

Mehling, W.E., Krause, N., (2005). Are difficulties perceiving and expressing emotions associated with low-back pain? The relationship between lack of emotional awareness (alexithymia) and 12-month prevalence of low-back pain in 1,180 urban public transit operators. Journal of Psychosomatic Researches, 58, 73–81. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2004.05.007

Oettingen, J., Chodkiewicz, J., Mącik, D., Gruszczyńska, E. (2017). Polska adaptacja i walidacja krótkiej wersji Kwestionariusza Schematów Younga (YSQ-3-PL). Psychiatria Polska, 82, 1-12.

Saariaho, A.S., Saariaho, T.H., Mattila, A.K., Karukivi, M., Joukamaa, M.I. (2015). Alexithymia and early maladaptive schemas in chronic pain patients. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 56, 428-437.

Shibata, M., Ninomiya, T., Jensen, M. P., Anno, K., Yonemoto, K., Makino, S., Iwaki,R., Yamashiro, K., Yoshida, T., Imada, Y., Kubo, C., Kiyohara, Y., Sudo, N., Hosoi, M. (2014). Alexithymia is associated with greater risk of chronic pain and negative affect and with lower life satisfaction in a general population: The Hisayama study. PLoS ONE, 9(3). doi:10.1371/journal.

pone.0090984

Schwartz, R., Pell, M.D. (2012). Emotional speech processing at the intersection of prosody and semantics. PLoS ONE, 7, e47279. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0047279

Shipman, K., Edwards, A., Brown, A., Swisher, L., Jennings, E. (2005). Managing emotion in a maltreating context: A pilot study examining child neglect. Child Abuse & Neglect Journal, 29(9), 1015–1029. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2005.01.006

Shipman, K., Zeman, J., Penza, S., Champion, K. (2000). Emotion management skills in sexually maltreated and nonmaltreated girls: A developmental psychopathology perspective. Development and Psychopathology, 12(1), 47–62. doi:10.1017/S0954579400001036

Sieński, M., Ziarko, M., Łuczak, K. (2018). Różnice płciowe w rozwoju wczesnych nieadaptacyjnych schematów. Badania prowadzone na grupia młodzieży doznającej przemocy w rodzinie. Dziecko skrzywdzone. Teoria, badania, praktyka, 17(2), 98-116.

Simard, V., Moss, E., Pascuzzo, K. (2011). Early maladaptive schemas and child and adult attachment: A 15-year longitudinal study. Psychology and Psychotherapy: Theory, Research and Practice, 84(4), 349–366. doi:10.1111/j.2044-8341.2010.02009.x

Stopa, L., Thorne, P., Waters, A., Preston, J. (2001). Are the short and long forms of Young Schema Questionnaire comparable and how well does each version predict psychopathology scores? Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy: An International Quarterly, 15 (3), 253-272.

Taylor, G.J., Parker, J.D.A., Bagby, R.M., Bourke, M.P. (1996). Relationships between alexithymia and psychological characteristics associated with eating disorders. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 41(6), 561–568.

Taylor, G.J. (2000). Recent developments in alexithymia theory and research. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 45(2), 134–142.

Taylor, G.J., Bagby, R.M. (2004). New trends in alexithymia research. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 73, 68–77. doi:10.1159/000075537

Taylor, G.J., Bagby, R.M., Parker, J.D.A. (1997). Disorders of Affect Regulation: Alexithymia in Medical and Psychiatric Illness. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9780511526831

Taylor, G.J., Parker, J.D.A., Bagby, R.M., Bourke, M.P. (1996). Relationships between alexithymia and psychological characteristics associated with eating disorders. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 41(6), 561–568.

Thimm, J. (2013). Early maladaptive schemas and interpersonal problems: a circumplex analysis of the YSQ-SF. International Journal of Psychology & Psychological Therapy, 13 (1), 113-124.

Vanheule, S., Desmet, M., Meganck, R., Bogaerts, S. (2007). Alexithymia and interpersonal problems. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(1), 109-117.

Wise, T.N., Sheridan, M.J. (2007). Relation of fatigue with alexithymia and depression in psychiatric outpatients. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 105(2), 539–545.

Wiśniewska, M., Mącik, D. (2016). Perfekcjonizm i wczesne nieadaptacyjne schematy Younga a przewlekłe zmęczenie w grupie młodych kobiet. Psychoterapia, 3(178), 77–88.

Young, J.E. (1999). Cognitive Therapy for Personality Disorders: A Schema-Focused Approach. Sarasota, FL, US: Professional Resource Press/Professional Resource Exchange.

Young, J.E., Klosko, J.S., Weishaar, M.E. (2014). Terapia schematów. Przewodnik praktyka. Sopot: Gdańskie Wydawnictwo Psychologiczne.




DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17951/j.2020.33.3.191-203
Date of publication: 2020-10-31 02:04:19
Date of submission: 2020-04-21 22:21:17


Statistics


Total abstract view - 2725
Downloads (from 2020-06-17) - PDF - 1610

Indicators



Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2020

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.