Alexithymia is defined as trouble recognizing and describing feelings and an externally oriented thinking style. Alexithymia has been associated with problematic alcohol use, alcohol use disorder (AUD), risky use of other substances, and other addictive behaviors. Research has shown that individuals with alexithymia characteristics have difficulty self-regulating their emotions which may lead to maladaptive coping strategies such as substance use. Others have suggested that alexithymia may be associated with a fundamental deficit in interoception, awareness of internal bodily sensations. This may lead to non-affective internal cues of overconsumption which may account for hazardous substance use behaviors. This study examines the impact of interoception on the link between alexithymia and alcohol use among young adults.
The study’s sample consisted of 337 young adults age 18 to 30 years old who reported alcohol use. Participants completed a questionnaire that assessed frequency of alcohol use, signs of alcohol dependence, and alcohol-related problems. An alexithymia scale was used to measure difficulty describing feelings, difficulty identifying feelings, and externally oriented feelings. Assessments were also used to determine sensitivity to punishment and sensitivity to reward, interoceptive awareness, and one’s ability to reduce distress via emotional self-regulation. Data was analyzed using hierarchical regression and bootstrapped mediation modelling.
Results of the data analysis showed alcohol use was significantly positively correlated with alexithymia and reward sensitivity, and negatively correlated with emotion regulation. Alcohol use was not correlated with interoceptive sensibility. The hierarchical regression indicated that alcohol use was predicted by reward sensitivity (positive predictor), sex, emotion regulation (negative predictor), punishment sensitivity (negative predictor), and alexithymia (positive predictor). Interceptive sensibility was not a significant mediator between alexithymia and drinking levels. However, emotional regulation was a significant mediator between alexithymia and drinking levels.
Takeaway: Emotion regulation deficits, but not general interoceptive deficits, may mediate the relationship between alexithymia and alcohol use among young adults.