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Journals / Klinik Psikoloji Dergisi / 2026 / Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2

Alexithymia as a mediator in the relationship of posttraumatic stress with anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic

COVID-19 Pandemisinde travma sonrası stres ile kaygı arasındaki ilişkide aleksitiminin aracı rolü

Pervin Tunç(ISTINYE UNIVERSITY)0000-0003-4938-0510
Ayşegül Akgün Sütçü0000-0002-2915-3532
Margörit Rita Krespi Ülgen(İSTANBUL AREL ÜNİVERSİTESİ)0000-0001-6802-4752
Pages
205–214
Publication Date
2025-08-25
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AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

The findings highlight the importance of mental health professionals considering alexithymia when evaluating and planning treatment for individuals with PTSS and anxiety.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:There has been an increase in the levels of many psychological problems including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Key Findings & Data:This study examined alexithymia as a mediator in the relationship of PTSS with anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Türkiye.
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Conclusion & Impact:The findings highlight the importance of mental health professionals considering alexithymia when evaluating and planning treatment for individuals with PTSS and anxiety.
🔬Design:Modeling & Simulation
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:Covid-19 Pandemisi · Travma sonrası stres belirtileri · anksiyete

Abstract

There has been an increase in the levels of many psychological problems including anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alexithymia can be considered an important psychological problem. However, it may be difficult to differentiate between post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), anxiety symptoms, and alexithymia because they share symptoms like avoidance. To develop psychological interventions, it will be useful to determine the extent to which alexithymia influences PTSS and anxiety. This study examined alexithymia as a mediator in the relationship of PTSS with anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic in Türkiye. The sample consisted of 417 male and female adults aged between 18 to 68. Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficients and structural equation modeling were computed to examine the relationships. Data were gathered through the Demographic Information Form, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist, Beck Anxiety Inventory, and Toronto Alexithymia Inventory. Findings showed that PTSS was related to alexithymia and anxiety, and alexithymia was associated with anxiety. Moreover, alexithymia had a partial mediator effect in the relationship between PTSS and anxiety. The findings highlight the importance of mental health professionals considering alexithymia when evaluating and planning treatment for individuals with PTSS and anxiety.

Özet

COVID-19 pandemisinde, kaygı ve travma sonrası stres bozukluğunu da içeren birçok psikolojik sorunun düzeyinde artış olmuştur. Aleksitimi önemli bir psikolojik sorun olarak değerlendirilebilir. Bununla birlikte, kaçınma gibi semptomları paylaştıkları için travma sonrası stres belirtileri, anksiyete belirtileri ve aleksitimi arasında ayrım yapmak zor olabilir. Psikolojik müdahalelerin geliştirilebilmesi için aleksitiminin travma sonrası stres belirtileri ve anksiyete belirtilerini ne ölçüde etkilediğinin belirlenmesi yararlı olacaktır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye'de COVID-19 pandemisinde travma sonrası stres belirtilerinin anksiyete ile ilişkisinde aleksitiminin aracı etkisini incelemiştir. Örneklem, yaşları 18 ile 68 arasında değişen 417 erkek ve kadın yetişkinden oluşmuştur. İlişkileri incelemek için Pearson moment korelasyon katsayıları ve yapısal eşitlik modellemesi yapılmıştır. Veriler Demografik Bilgi Formu, Travma Sonrası Stres Bozukluğu Kontrol Listesi, Beck Anksiyete Envanteri ve Toronto Aleksitimi Envanteri kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Bulgular, travma sonrası stres belirtilerinin aleksitimi ve anksiyete belirtileriyle, aleksitiminin ise anksiyete belirtileriyle anlamlı düzeyde ilişkili olduğunu göstermiştir. Ayrıca aleksitiminin, travma sonrası stres belirtileri ile kaygı ilişkisinde kısmi aracılık etkisine sahip olduğu bulunmuştur. Bulgular, ruh sağlığı uzmanlarının travma sonrası stres belirtileri ve kaygı belirtileri gösteren bireyleri değerlendirirken ve tedaviyi planlarken aleksitimiyi dikkate almalarının önemine işaret etmektedir.

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Cite This Article

Tunç, P., Sütçü, A. A., Ülgen, M. R. K. (2025). Alexithymia as a mediator in the relationship of posttraumatic stress with anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. Klinik Psikoloji Dergisi, Cilt: 9 Sayı: 2, 205–214. https://doi.org/10.57127/kpd.26024438.1498168

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