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Alexithymia: methods of assessment, and experiences post-treatment
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Date
2026-04-28
Authors
Manning, Stephanie
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
University College Cork
Published Version
Abstract
Alexithymia, characterised by difficulties identifying and describing emotions alongside externally oriented thinking (Taylor et al., 1997), has been linked to impairments in emotional processing, interpersonal functioning, and psychological engagement (Lumley et al., 2007). Despite growing interest in the construct, questions remain regarding both its measurement, and its manifestation across different contexts, particularly within forensic populations where prevalence rates are elevated (Chen et al., 2017; Mattila et al., 2008). The current thesis presents two complementary empirical studies addressing these gaps.
The first study examined the measurement of alexithymia in a community sample, looking at two self-report measures, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS 20) and the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ), and a performance-based measure, the Alexithymia Provoked Response Questionnaire (APRQ). A sample of 132 adults completed all measures online. Results showed strong positive correlations between TAS-20 and PAQ, indicating convergent validity, whereas APRQ scores showed weak negative associations with both self-report measures.
Linguistic indicators were similarly weakly related to self-reported alexithymia. PAQ scores demonstrated slightly stronger associations with behavioural indices than TAS-20. Males reported higher alexithymia on both self-report measures. Findings suggest self-report instruments primarily capture perceived emotional difficulty, whereas behavioural measures may better reflect emotional expression and granularity. Overall, results highlight divergence between assessment methods and underscore the importance of multi-method approaches, including consideration of emotional valence and linguistics in alexithymia assessment contexts.
The second study explored the lived experiences of men following an alexithymia intervention within an Irish prison context using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Semi-structured interviews with seven participants identified five key themes: Institutionalisation and Social Context, Negotiating Vulnerability, Emotional Regulation, Self-Identity, and Future
Orientation: Anticipating Emotions Post-Release. While participants reported increased emotional awareness, the expression and application of these skills were constrained by institutional norms, safety concerns, and relational dynamics.
Taken together, the findings highlight that alexithymia is a multifaceted construct encompassing both measurable emotional deficits and contextually shaped emotional practices. The research demonstrates that different assessment tools capture distinct dimensions of emotional functioning, while also illustrating how environmental factors, particularly within custodial settings, shape the experience and expression of emotion. These findings underscore the importance of integrating multimethod assessment approaches and adopting contextually informed, trauma aware interventions to better support emotional development and psychological outcomes.
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Keywords
Alexithymia , Emotional processing , Measurement , Intervention , Prison , Forensic , Psychology
Citation
Manning, S. 2026. Alexithymia: methods of assessment, and experiences post-treatment. DClinPsych Thesis, University College Cork.