Is Alexithymia Related to Individual Cultural Orientation? A Preliminary Study on Horizontal-Vertical Individualism-Collectivism in an Italian Sample

Introduction: Alexithymia, characterized by difficulties in identifying and describing feelings and externally oriented thinking, is conceptualized as a multidimensional construct of personal functioning and a transdiagnostic construct. There is a paucity of research on the link between cultural context, alexithymia, and health. Most studies were conducted in Western individualistic countries. The scientific community generally considers that a more Eastern and/or more collectivist cultural orientation (interdependence) explains higher levels of alexithymia. More specifically, higher interdependent self-construal has been associated with higher alexithymia, while higher independent self-construal has been associated with lower alexithymia. No study has investigated this topic in the Italian context or assessed individual cultural orientation distinguishing horizontal-vertical individualism-collectivism. This preliminary study aimed to fill this gap by exploring the relationship between alexithymia and individual cultural orientation in an Italian community sample. Moreover, anxious and depressive symptoms, psychological well-being, and quality of life were taken into account.


Methods: Participants (N = 80) were recruited from a region in southern Italy, with ages ranging from 18 to 79 years (M = 42.82; SD = 17.18). Participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Horizontal-Vertical Individualism-Collectivism Scale (INDCOL), and measures of emotional distress (depression [EDD] and anxiety [EDA]), psychological well-being (PWB), and quality of life (WHOQOL-BRIEF).


Results: No significant sex differences emerged for any measured variables. All alexithymia dimensions showed positive associations with anxious and depressive symptoms and negative associations with psychological well-being and quality of life. Contrary to findings in individualist cultures, no associations emerged between alexithymia and individualist orientation. Moreover, negative correlations were found between collectivist orientation (horizontal and vertical) and alexithymic traits, particularly difficulty identifying feelings.


Conclusion: Findings suggest the relationship between cultural orientation and alexithymia might depend on person-environment fit, whereby alignment between individual orientation and cultural values might promote emotional awareness. Given southern Italy's collectivistic culture, results support the "person-environment fit" and "personality-culture clash" concepts, highlighting the need to distinguish cultural and individual levels when examining cultural influences on emotional functioning. Limitations include cross-sectional design, small sample size, and gender imbalance. Future research should employ larger, gender-balanced, cross-cultural samples.