Mediating role of Alexithymia between perceived social support and somatic complaints among depressed women

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

• Masoud Mohammadi ¹
• raziyeh Jaffari ²

¹ associate Professor, Psychology Dep., Shiraz branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran

² Daycare counselor

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluation mediating role of Alexithymia between perceived social support and somatic complaints among depressed women. Subjects were 101 women suffering from depression disorder whom were referred to psychiatric and psychological clinic in Shiraz city. Measures were Alexithymia Toronto Scale (ATS-20), Multi-dimensional Perceived Social Support (MPSS) and Riahi and colleagues psychosomatic disorders scale. The results of correlation and analysis showed a significant negative relation between perceived social support and somatic complaints and there was a positive relation between alexithymia and somatic complaints. The results of path analysis showed direct and indirect effect of perceived social support on somatic complaints. The research model is able to estimate 0/38 of variances of somatic complaints. Consequently, perceived social support both directly and through alexithymia can affect the somatic health of depressed women. Conclusion would be the idea that, women as cornerstone of every society need to receive social support in order to prevent them to be depressed and consequently somatized patients.

Keywords

• alexithymia
• perceived social support
• somatic complaints

20.1001.1.20088566.1399.11.44.10.0

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