Alexithymia in athletic populations: Prevalence, and relationship with self-control and reinvestment

Abstract

Alexithymia is the inability to identify or describe feelings, with a tendency for externally oriented thinking; these facets have potential benefits for athletic performance. This study explored the prevalence of alexithymia among athletes, across different sports and athletic ability, and considered the relationship between alexithymia and trait self-control, and between alexithymia and reinvestment. Athletes (N = 787) completed a 15-min online survey which comprised self-report questionnaires (e.g., demographic, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Movement Specific Reinvestment Scale (MSRS), Decision Specific Reinvestment Scale (DSRS), and The Brief Self-Control Scale). The overall prevalence of high-alexithymia was notable in an athletic population; analyzes revealed that high-static-dynamic sports had higher alexithymia scores compared to low-static-dynamic sports. Athletes with higher alexithymia scores were related to lower trait self-control, in addition to higher MSRS and DSRS scores. The findings of the present study suggest that alexithymic athletes experience emotional dysregulation issues, are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, and engage in processes which are detrimental to their performance. This study represents an initial exploration, and future research should expand upon these findings to fully determine the performance outcomes of alexithymia in sport.