Impact of self perception and attachment styles on alexithymia in adult individuals

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of self-perception and attachment styles on alexithymia in adult individuals. The sample group consisted of people who were randomly selected as 132 women and 118 men in the age range of 20-50, who had been living in Kağıthane, Okmeydanı, and Üsküdar districts of İstanbul. Personal Information Form, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR-S), and Social Comparison Scale (SC-S) were used and implemented on participants in order to evaluate and calculate the variables of research. Analysis and results of study demonstrated that the higher score individuals had in Anxious Attachment Scale, the lower score they had in Toronto Alexithymia Scale and faced with difficulties in identifying feelings. The higher the scores individuals had in Self-Perception Scale, the lower the score they had in externally oriented feelings and Toronto Alexithymia Scales, and encountered difficulties in both identifying and describing feelings. Based on gender variable, the level of women's self-perception was found to be higher than the level of men's self-perception. The level of women's externally oriented feelings was found to be higher than the level of men's externally oriented feelings. According to the age variable, it was determined that self-perception level of individuals tended to increase in parallel with their ages. Based on education level variable, self-perception level of high school graduates has been found to be higher than the self-perception level of elementary school graduates. In addition, self-perception level of university or higher degree graduates has been found to be higher than the self-perception level of elementary school graduates. Considering attachment styles, individuals who had secure attachment styles were found to have higher levels of self-perception than the individuals who had fearful attachment style. Individuals who had preoccupied attachment style were found to have higher levels of self-perception than the individuals who had fearful attachment styles.Through researches, it has been seen that the higher the scores individuals had in Self-Perception Scale, the lower the scores they had in Anxious Attachment Scale. Consequently, the level of individuals' self-perception was determined to decrease the levels of alexithymia. These findings were discussed in light of the current literature.