Alexithymia is characterized by difficulties identifying and describing one's own emotions and the emotions of others. These challenges with understanding emotions in people with alexithymia may give rise to difficulties with social interactions. Given that alexithymia frequently co-occurs with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and that both populations have difficulties with social interactions, it is of interest to determine whether alexithymia can help to parse some of the heterogeneity in social competence in autistic and nonautistic individuals. The caregivers of 241 children (6-14 years old), including 120 autistic, and 121 nonautistic, rated their child's social competence using the Multidimensional Social Competence Scale (MSCS), autism traits using the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ), and alexithymia traits using the Children's Alexithymia Measure (CAM). Regression analyses indicated that age, IQ, sex, AQ, and CAM scores accounted for 40.2% of the variance in autistic children's, and 68.2% of the variance in nonautistic children's, parent-reported social competence. Importantly, after controlling for age, IQ, sex, and AQ scores, CAM scores alone accounted for an additional 16.2% of the variance in autistic children's, and 17.4% of the variance in nonautistic children's social competence. These results indicate that higher alexithymia traits predict lower levels of social competence, suggesting that increased difficulty in identifying and describing one's own emotions and the emotions of others is associated with poorer social competence. Furthermore, CAM scores were found to partially mediate the relationship between autistic traits and social competence, suggesting that comorbid alexithymia traits may be partially responsible for poor social competence in individuals with high autistic traits. This research contributes to the understanding of the factors associated with the development of social competence and highlights alexithymia as a potential target for identification and intervention to improve social competence. LAY SUMMARY: Alexithymia is a condition where people find it hard to think and talk about their (and others') feelings. About 50% of autistic people have alexithymia. This might be why they have social and emotional difficulties. Parents answered questions about alexithymia and social difficulties their children have. Children with more alexithymia problems had poorer social skills. Thus, alexithymia may be related to social problems faced by autistic and nonautistic children.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.2485 | DOI Listing |
Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord
January 2025
Research Department of Clinical, Educational, and Health Psychology, University College London (UCL), London, UK.
Objective: To establish whether a virtual dementia awareness course is feasible for caregivers of people with dementia in Brazil and India.
Methods: A pre/posttest single group, multisite feasibility study, mixed methods exploratory design was applied. Primary caregivers of people with dementia in Brazil and India took a 3 to 4-hour course adapted for online delivery, with 10 to 15 caregivers.
Front Psychol
January 2025
Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, University of Duisburg-Essen, LVR-University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany.
Introduction: The experience of cancer among relatives is characterized by an increase in anxiety and depression, stress, and a reduction in quality of life. However, there is a paucity of psychosocial support programmes for relatives and a dearth of evidence-based, manualized interventions. Accordingly, the present study aims to assess the acceptability, defined as participant drop-out and satisfaction, and feasibility, in terms of mental health improvement, of a novel manualized psycho-educational group intervention.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Med Philipp
December 2024
Saint Louis University, Baguio City, Philippines.
Background: Child-rearing is challenging for adolescent mothers at risk of providing limited care to their children because of the challenges and demands of simultaneously being an adolescent and a mother. Children aged 0-2 years depend on caregivers like their young mothers to promote their physical, emotional, social, and cognitive growth and development.
Objective: The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of the Child-rearing Information Booklet (CRIB) among adolescent mothers with children aged 0-2 years on the three dimensions of knowledge, attitude, and practices.
Front Public Health
January 2025
Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital, Beijing, China.
Background: Anxiety is widespread among adolescents, and research has shown that this condition can profoundly affect their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The purpose of this study was to analyze gender differences in anxiety levels among adolescents and to explore the influencing factors and pathways.
Methods: A total of 3601 adolescents were included in this study (age: 15.
Am J Health Promot
January 2025
Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, USA.
Purpose: To investigate how media literacy and varied media consumption influenced substance use behavior.
Design: A cross-sectional survey was conducted.
Setting: Online survey was conducted June 22-July 18, 2020, with quality checks.
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