The mediating role of alexithymia and cognitive flexibility in the relationship between behavioral inhibition system/behavioral activation system and depression in Turkish population

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationships between the behavioral inhibition system (BIS)/behavioral activation system (BAS), depression, cognitive flexibility, and alexithymia, and to determine the mediator role of cognitive flexibility and alexithymia in the relationship between BIS/BAS and depression. Data were collected from a community sample, consisting of 1,275 people, 904 women (70.90%) and 371 (29.10%) men, aged 18–65 years. It was detected that the whole variables in this research were interrelated. Additionally, for the mediation analyses, two significant models in which were determined the mediator role of cognitive flexibility and alexithymia in the relationship between the dimensions of BIS‐Fear and BAS‐Reward and depression were created. Consequently, high BIS‐Fear and low BAS‐Reward were associated with susceptibility to depression through decreased cognitive flexibility and increased alexithymia. Moreover, it may be possible to identify which subdimensions of alexithymia and cognitive flexibility play a role in the relationship between depression and reward/punishment systems and which of these are risk factors via the models tested in this study. In this way, clinical interventions for the factors that are both associated with depressive symptoms and mediators for depression can be planned and this can help to achieve effective results in the therapy process.

Effects of rational emotive behavior therapy on alexithymia, anxiety, depression and sleep quality of older people in nursing homes: a quasi-experimental study

“…Previous study has shown that people with alexithymia and healthy people have different beliefs regarding emotionally induced events, with those with alexithymia being more prone to hold negative beliefs about past events and interpret the present fatalistically [ 34 ]. Although there is no definitive conclusion about the mechanism of alexithymia, a number of studies have demonstrated that people with alexithymia have a degree of cognitive impairment [ 35 , 36 ], particularly a lack of cognitive flexibility, which makes it difficult to appropriately identify and give feedback to social emotions [ 37 ]. From the perspective of REBT mechanism of action, REBT can change the irrational beliefs of older people by intervening with their cognition and belief, so reducing their negative feelings about life events, thereby enabling a fundamental change in the occurrence and development of alexithymia.…”

Effects of rational emotive behavior therapy on alexithymia, anxiety, depression and sleep quality of the elderly in nursing homes: a quasi-experimental study

“…Previous study has shown that people with alexithymia and healthy people have different beliefs regarding emotionally induced events, with those with alexithymia being more prone to hold negative beliefs about past events and interpret the present fatalistically [34]. Although there is no de nitive conclusion about the mechanism of alexithymia, a number of studies have demonstrated that people with alexithymia have a degree of cognitive impairment [35,36], particularly a lack of cognitive exibility, which makes it di cult to appropriately identify and give feedback to social emotions [37]. From the perspective of REBT mechanism of action, REBT can change the irrational beliefs of the elderly by intervening with their cognition and belief, so reducing their negative feelings about life events, thereby enabling a fundamental change in the occurrence and development of alexithymia.…”