Abstract
Objectives
Alexithymia is the inability of an individual to adequately recognise and describe their emotions, which directly affects mental health by precipitating psychological disorders or by causing a disturbance to interpersonal functioning, coping responses, and quality of life. The purpose of this research was to test the efficacy of alexithymia reduction treatment (ART), a pilot online group intervention specifically designed to ameliorate alexithymia in men.
Methods
As this was a pilot study, a small sample consisting entirely of male university students (n = 20) was selected. The participants were screened on the standardised measures at pre-treatment and post-treatment and were assigned to a treatment group (n = 10) or wait-list control group (n = 10). The study utilised a quasi-experimental design as the participants were assigned to the treatment and wait-list control group based on their availability to attend the therapeutic sessions. The treatment group then received ART while the wait-list control received no treatment at that time.
Results
The statistical analysis showed a significant reduction in the participants’ alexithymia, as well as depression and anxiety, in the treatment group but not in the wait-list control group.
Conclusion
ART proves to be efficacious in reducing alexithymia. In addition, the treatment modality proved to be useful in improving the participants’ general psychological distress (anxiety, depressive symptoms).