Relationships between Alexithymia and Locus of Control

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2000

Authors

Verissimo R (Author) FMUP; Taylor G (Author) Other; Bagby M (Author) Other

Journal

Title: New Trends in Experimental and Clinical Psychiatry

Vol. 16 No. 1

Pages: 11-16

ISSN: 0393-5310

Publisher: C I C Edizioni International srl

Scientific classification

CORDIS: Health sciences > Medical sciences > Medicine > Psychosomatics ; Social sciences > Psychological sciences

Other information

Abstract (EN): The relationship between alexithymia and locus of control was explored in a clinical group comprised of 50 general practice patients and 74 patients with inflammatory bowel disease, and in a nonclinical group comprised of 218 medical students. Alexithymia was associated positively with the powerful others and chance dimensions of external locus of control in both groups, and negatively with internal locus of control in the nonclinical group. Although not all correlations reached a level of significance, the overall pattern of correlations between the facets of the alexithymia construct and the dimensions of locus of control was similar in the two groups. The findings are consistent with clinical reports that alexithymic individuals manifest an externally-oriented mode of thinking and living.

Language: Portuguese

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific