Confrontation: Inhibition, alexithymia, and health.

Abstract

his chapter presents our team's research into alexithymia, emotional T coping, and health. First of all, we will briefly review the literature on the positive effect of confrontation on physical and mental health. We will then set out the basic elements of the alexithymia concept and scale (inability to identify and express emotions). The data on factorial, concurrent, and content validity of the Spanish version of Taylor et al. 's (1988) alexithymia scale will be presented. Next, we will also present data that confirm the association between alexithymia and inhibitory or avoiding styles of coping with emotions, as well as data on the predictive validity of alexithymia and inhibitory coping styles with regard to affective distress and health problems. Finally, we will show quasi-experimental data pertaining to the positive effect of participation in groups oriented toward improving affective coping, social sharing, and direct confrontation of stress, in the particular case of women with breast cancer. In this way weThe writing of this chapter and some of the research reported herein was supported by Grant UPV 109.230-F1177/W from the Basque C h n t r y University. We wish to thank the participants in the Taos Conference on Emotion, Disclosure and Health for their comments and suggestions.'I'he authors would especially like to thank J. Pennebaker, G. Schwartz, W. Rucci, G. Bellelli, and the anonymous reviewer for their constructive comments on this chapter.

The Efficacy of Problem-Focused and Emotional Approach Interventions Varies as a Function of Emotional Processing Style

“…We found that individuals who are not attentive to their emotions had better outcomes, specifically lower NA and anhedonic depression, if they engaged in the emotional approach interventions. This finding is consistent with past research indicating that people with deficits in emotional processing style will gain greater benefits from expressing their emotions to others or writing about their emotions than others who are more attentive or clear about their emotions (Baker & Berenbaum, 2007;Paez et al, 1995;Salovey et al, 1999;Smyth, 1998).…”

“…We hypothesized that individual differences in emotional processing style (i.e., attention to and clarity of emotion) may moderate the effectiveness of emotional approach and problem-focused coping interventions. These hypotheses are consistent with the results of past research suggesting that individuals who lack mood awareness and are less emotionally open benefit more from expressive writing and other mechanisms to express their emotions than do people who are more attentive and clear about their emotions (Baker & Berenbaum, 2007;Lumley, 2004;Paez, Basabe, Valdoseda, Velasco, & Iraurgi, 1995;Paez, Velasco, & Gonzalez, 1999;Salovey et al, 1999).…”

Dyadic Moderators of the Effectiveness of Problem-Focused and Emotional-Approach Coping Interventions

“…Therefore, it is plausible that ''forcing'' an individual low in attention to identify their emotions, and the source of their emotions, was useful because their emotions provided guidance to eventually solve the problem (Greenberg 2002;Paez et al 1995). Consistent with our past research we found that individuals high in attention to their emotions had better outcomes if assigned to the PFC intervention, but only if one's partner was unsupportive.…”

Emotion understanding in children with frequent somatic complaints

“…Sifneos (1973;1996) argued that alexithymia is the most prominent characteristic of people with psychosomatic complaints. Alexithymia refers to a limited ability to identify and communicate one's own emotions (Bagby & Taylor, 1999;Paez, Basabe, Valdoseda, & Iraurgi, 1995;Sifneos, 1973;1996;Taylor, Bagby, & Parker, 1991). It is argued that every emotion consists of more or less notable physical reactions, such as sweating, a faster heart beat, and tension in the abdominal area.…”