FEATURES OF THE PERSONAL ANXIETY AND MENTAL RIGIDITY RATIO IN THE STRUCTURE OF ALEXITHYMIA

DOI: 10.22138/2500-0918-2021-18-2-117–131

A.I. Zdanovich, D.V. Plotnikov, I.A. Belskikh, E.V. Levchenko

Kursk State Medical University, Kursk, Russian Federation

Abstract. The purpose of the current study was to determine the components of personal anxiety and mental rigidity, the significance of their severity and combination in the structure of alexithymia. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on 377 apparently healthy men and women aged 20-25 years. The assessment of the level of alexithymia in points was carried out using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale in the Russian version, then all participants were passed the Differential Assessment of Personal Anxiety Test and the Differentiated Mental Rigidity Assessment Test to determine the corresponding characteristics. The study participants were divided by gender, and each group into subgroups depending on the level of alexithymia severity. Results. Analysis of the average values revealed an increase in both the general levels of personal anxiety and mental rigidity with an increase in alexithymic potential, and individual components of these signs. A factor analysis was performed to identify the ratios of personal anxiety and mental rigidity components depending on alexithymia severity. It was revealed a three-factor structure with the greatest loads on the affective and cognitive components. With correlation analysis, the structures of the subscales of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale were investigated, and it was revealed that they are, to a high degree of probability, formed by various combinations of personal anxiety and mental rigidity components. Conclusion. The investigation confirmed the complex heterogeneous and multidimensional structure of the alexithymic potential and the essential role of various ratios of personal anxiety and mental rigidity components in its profile.

Keywords: alexithymia, structure of alexithymia, anxiety, mental rigidity, individuality

There is no conflict of interest.
Contact details of the corresponding author:
Anna I. Zdanovich
toxicpollen@yandex.ru
Received 11.05.2021г
For citation:
Zdanovich A.I., Plotnikov D.V., Belskikh I.A., Levchenko E.V. Features of the Personal Anxiety and Mental Rigidity Ratio in the Structure of Alexithymia. [Online] Vestn. Ural. Med. Akad. Nauki. = Journal of Ural Medical Academic Science. 2021, Vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 117–131. DOI: 10.22138/2500-0918-2021-18-2-117–131 (In Russ)

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Authors
Anna I. Zdanovich
Assistant lecturer of the department of Psychiatry
toxicpollen@yandex.ru

Dmitry V. Plotnikov
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, Head of the department of Psychiatry
plot1967@yandex.ru

Irina A. Belskikh
Ph.D., Associate Professor of the department of Psychiatry
irinabel84@yandex.ru

Elena V. Levchenko
Ph.D., Associate Professor of the department of Psychiatry
levchenkoev@kursksmu.net

Kursk State Medical University
3 Karl Marx str. Kursk Russian Federation 305041

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