Is Alexithymia Associated With Sleep Disturbances, Independent of Depression and Anxiety?

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to examine the relationship between alexithymia and sleep, independent of depression and anxiety.Methods: This cross-sectional study included participants who visited our sleep clinic between 2016 and 2022. In total, 142 participants (98 males and 44 females) were included, and they completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20). Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores were also recorded. The relationship between alexithymia and sleep (PSQI, ISI, and ESS scores) was determined after controlling for demographic and psychological (Beck Depression Inventory and State Trait Anxiety Inventory-Trait) variables.Results: Individuals with alexithymia had significantly higher PSQI, ESS, and ISI scores than those without alexithymia. Correlation analysis showed significant correlations between the total TAS-20 score and ISI (r=0.321) and ESS (r=0.253) scores. In multivariate linear regression analysis, the total TAS-20 score (β=0.201; p=0.022) was significantly associated with the ESS score.Conclusions: Alexithymia was associated with the severity of insomnia and daytime sleepiness in adults. However, when considering depression and anxiety in multivariate analysis, alexithymia was significantly associated with daytime sleepiness; however, its relationship with the severity of insomnia was not significant.