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Alexithymia Is Linked with a Negative Bias for Past and Current Events in Healthy Humans

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  • Silvia Barchetta

    (Department of Cognitive Sciences, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università di Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy)

  • Gabriella Martino

    (Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Craparo

    (Faculty of Human and Social Sciences, UKE-Kore University of Enna, Cittadella Universitaria, 94100 Enna, Italy)

  • Mohammad A. Salehinejad

    (Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, 44139 Dortmund, Germany)

  • Michael A. Nitsche

    (Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
    Department of Neurology, University Medical Hospital Bergmannsheil, Bürkle de La Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany)

  • Carmelo M. Vicario

    (Department of Cognitive Sciences, Psicologiche, Pedagogiche e Degli Studi Culturali, Università di Messina, 98122 Messina, Italy)

Abstract

Although research provides a rich literature about the influence of emotional states on temporal cognition, evidence about the influence of the style of emotion processing, as a personality trait, on temporal cognition is extremely limited. We provide a novel contribution to the field by exploring the relationship between difficulties of identifying and describing feelings and emotions (alexithymia) and time perspective. One hundred and forty-two healthy participants completed an online version of the TAS-20 scale, which measures alexithymia, and the Zimbardo Time Perspective Inventory, which monitors individual differences in time-orientation regarding the past, present, and future. The results show greater attention to past negative aspects in participants whose TAS-20 score was indicating borderline or manifest alexithymia, as compared to non-alexithymic individuals. Moreover, the higher the TAS-20 score, the higher the tendency was to focus on negative aspects of the past and interpret the present fatalistically. These results suggest that difficulties in identifying and describing feelings and emotions are associated with a negative bias for past and present events. Theoretical and clinical implications of this finding are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Barchetta & Gabriella Martino & Giuseppe Craparo & Mohammad A. Salehinejad & Michael A. Nitsche & Carmelo M. Vicario, 2021. "Alexithymia Is Linked with a Negative Bias for Past and Current Events in Healthy Humans," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-9, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:13:p:6696-:d:579445
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Marc Wittmann & Tina Rudolph & Damisela Linares Gutierrez & Isabell Winkler, 2015. "Time Perspective and Emotion Regulation as Predictors of Age-Related Subjective Passage of Time," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-16, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Mariagrazia Di Giuseppe & Graziella Orrù & Angelo Gemignani & Rebecca Ciacchini & Mario Miniati & Ciro Conversano, 2022. "Mindfulness and Defense Mechanisms as Explicit and Implicit Emotion Regulation Strategies against Psychological Distress during Massive Catastrophic Events," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-10, October.

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