Examination of the Relationship Between Alexithymia and Satisfaction with Life in Patients with Epilepsy: A Cross-sectional Study


Atan G.

Archives of Epilepsy, cilt.31, sa.2, ss.53-59, 2025 (ESCI) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 31 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.4274/archepilepsy.2024.24131
  • Dergi Adı: Archives of Epilepsy
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.53-59
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: alexithymia, Epilepsy, nursing, satisfaction with life
  • Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: Patients with epilepsy (PWE) may experience emotional difficulties and distress if they cannot cope consistently with the emotional and physical challenges of having a seizure. This study was conducted to examine the relationship between alexithymia and life satisfaction in PWE. Methods: This study was conducted with 207 PWE in a hospital in eastern Türkiye. Data were collected using the “Individual information forms”, “Toronto Alexithymia Scale”, and “Satisfaction with Life Scale”. Descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, and regression analyses, and post-hoc LSD analyses were employed for data evaluation. Results: In the present study, the alexithymia total mean score of the PWE was 58.01±9.07, the total mean score of “difficulty identifying feelings” was 19.84±5.82, the total mean score of “difficulty describing feelings” was 14.42±3.30, and the total mean score of “externally oriented thinking” was 23.75±2.88. The total mean satisfaction with life score was 13.82±4.23. A significant negative correlation was found between total alexithymia and life satisfaction scores of PWE, who participated in the study (F=11.87; p<0.05). Conclusion: It was found that PWE had high alexithymia levels and lower life satisfaction levels. As the total alexithymia score increased, the total life satisfaction score decreased.