The relationship between self-harm and alexithymia: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Article
Norman, H., Oskis, A., Marzano, L. and Coulson, M. 2020. The relationship between self-harm and alexithymia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 61 (6), pp. 855-876. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12668
Type | Article |
---|---|
Title | The relationship between self-harm and alexithymia: a systematic review and meta-analysis |
Authors | Norman, H., Oskis, A., Marzano, L. and Coulson, M. |
Abstract | Self-harm, defined for the purpose of this review as any act of self-injury without explicit suicidal intent, is an increasing public health concern, with potential long-term implications for those who engage in it. Previous research has identified a correlational relationship between self-harm and alexithymia, an emotion processing deficit characterised by difficulties identifying and describing feelings, and an externally-orientated thinking style. Through a systematic search of the literature, the current review examines the association between alexithymia and self-harm. A meta-analysis based on 23 studies found a significant, positive relationship between self-harm and alexithymia, with a medium effect size (g = 0.57, 95% CI 0.45 to 0.71). All 23 studies used the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS20) to measure alexithymia. The alexithymia subcomponents difficulty identifying feelings and difficulty describing feelings were significantly associated with self-harm, but there was no significant association between self-harm and externally-orientated thinking. The effect size of the relationship was significantly larger in adolescent samples compared with adult samples and in female compared with male samples. The definition of self-harm did not affect the effect size of the relationship between alexithymia and self-harm and the results are consistent with previous meta-analyses focused more narrowly on non-suicidal self-injury and, separately, suicidal behaviours. Heterogeneity between the included studies was high. The results support an affect regulation model of self-harm, in which self-harm is used to regulate an emotional experience that is poorly understood. |
Keywords | Self-harm; alexithymia; NSSI; emotion regulation; meta-analysis |
Research Group | Applied Health Psychology group |
Publisher | Wiley |
The Scandinavian Psychological Associations | |
Journal | Scandinavian Journal of Psychology |
ISSN | 0036-5564 |
Electronic | 1467-9450 |
Publication dates | |
Online | 24 Jul 2020 |
25 Nov 2020 | |
Publication process dates | |
Deposited | 24 Jun 2020 |
Accepted | 02 Jun 2020 |
Output status | Published |
Publisher's version | License File Access Level Open |
Accepted author manuscript | File Access Level Restricted |
Copyright Statement | © 2020 The Authors. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology published by Scandinavian Psychological Associations and John Wiley & Sons Ltd |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12668 |
Web of Science identifier | WOS:000551515400001 |
Language | English |
https://repository.mdx.ac.uk/item/88zxq
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