Effect of alexithymia on health anxiety: Mediating role of cognition and meta-cognition.
10.11817/j.issn.1672-7347.2018.09.015
- Author:
Lisha DAI
1
;
Yi ZHOU
1
;
Jing HU
2
;
Yunlong DENG
1
Author Information
1. Psychosomatic Health Institute, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
2. Office of Academic Affairs, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- MeSH:
Affective Symptoms;
complications;
Anxiety;
complications;
Culture;
Humans;
Metacognition;
Surveys and Questionnaires
- From:
Journal of Central South University(Medical Sciences)
2018;43(9):1026-1031
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
According to the cognitive behavior theory and meta-cognitive theory of health anxiety, to examine the association between alexithymia, cognition factors or meta-cognition factors and health anxiety.
Methods: A total of 1 164 medical students were investigated by the Short Health Anxiety Inventory, the Health Cognitions Questionnaire, the Meta-cognitions about Health Questionnaire and the Toronto Alexithymia Scale.
Results: 1) Correlation analysis showed that alexithymia, dysfunctional beliefs, meta-cognition were significantly positively correlated with health anxiety (r=0.227-0.477, all P<0.01); 2) The results of structural equation model indicated that alexithymia could not exert effects on health anxiety directly (β=-0.05, 95% CI -0.123 to 0.021). The alexithymia could exert effects on health anxiety indirectly not only through dysfunctional beliefs (β=0.192, 95% CI 0.156 to 0.235), but also through the chain-mediated effect of dysfunctional beliefs and meta-cognitions (β=0.103, 95% CI 0.077 to 0.135). Dysfunctional beliefs fully mediated the relation between alexithymia and health anxiety (β=0.247, 95% CI 0.196 to 0.290).
Conclusion: Alexithymia can affect health anxiety through the mediating effects of dysfunctional beliefs and meta-cognition.
