Results
Higher levels of alexithymia were significantly associated with greater psychosomatic symptom burden and poorer patient-reported health-related quality of life, emerging as significant predictor of both psychosomatic syndrome severity and reduced scores across health status domains assessed by the SF-36. Specifically, higher levels of alexithymia were associated with lower scores on health status variables, including physical functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain and general health. In terms of psychosomatic conditions, alexithymia was associated with higher levels of disease phobia, thanatophobia, Type A behaviour, irritable mood and demoralization. Considering DIF, DDF and EOT as predictors, all significant associations between DIF and DDF and health status were negative, indicating a deterioration in health associated with alexithymia. Contrarywise, all significant associations between alexithymia factors and psychosomatic syndromes were positive, highlighting the role of alexithymia in the onset and maintenance of psychosomatic disorders. Significant negative associations involving DIF were observed with role limitations due to emotional problems, emotional well-being, social functioning, pain, and general health. Positive associations emerged with disease phobia, thanatophobia, illness denial, conversion symptoms, Type A behaviour, irritable mood, and demoralization. A significant negative association was found between DDF and role limitations due to emotional problems, while significant negative associations were identified with conversion, Type A behaviour and clinically detected alexithymia. EOT was found associated with higher levels of role limitations due to emotional problems, energy/fatigue, and emotional well-being. Conversely, lower levels of Type A behaviour, irritable mood, and demoralization emerged.
