Depression mediates the relationship between alexithymia and obesity in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966).
Adiposity
Alexithymia
Body mass index
Depression
Depressive symptoms
Mediation
Obesity
Waist-hip ratio
Journal
Journal of affective disorders
ISSN: 1573-2517
Titre abrégé: J Affect Disord
Pays: Netherlands
ID NLM: 7906073
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
15 06 2023
15 06 2023
Historique:
received:
04
11
2022
revised:
08
03
2023
accepted:
11
03
2023
medline:
14
4
2023
pubmed:
19
3
2023
entrez:
18
3
2023
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The fact that a complex relationship exists between alexithymia and body mass index (BMI) is well established, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we explore the relationship between alexithymia and depressive symptoms in relation to adiposity measures, including the direct and indirect effect of alexithymia and depressive symptoms on obesity over a 15-year time-period, in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966). The study included individuals from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966) who had available data for adiposity measures (body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio), alexithymia (measured by the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale: TAS-20), depressive symptoms (measured by the 13-item depression subscale of Hopkins Symptom Checklist: HSCL-13) at age of 31 years (n = 4773) and 46 years (n = 4431). Pearson's (r) correlation, and multiple linear regression were used to investigate the relationships between alexithymia, depressive symptoms, and adiposity measures. The potential mediating role of depressive symptoms was examined via Hayes' procedure (PROCESS). Positive correlations were confirmed between adiposity measures (BMI and WHR) and the TAS-20 score (and its subscale), but not between obesity and HSCL-13 score. The strongest correlation was between the DIF (difficulty identifying feelings) subscale of the TAS-20 and HSCL-13 at both time points (31 y: r Other psychological and environmental factors such as interoception, dietary intake and physical activities may also play a role as a potential mediating factor in alexithymia-obesity relationship. Our findings provide additional insights of theoretical framework of depressive symptoms mediation effect in the relationship between alexithymia and obesity. Alexithymia and depression should, therefore, be considered in the design of future clinical obesity research.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
The fact that a complex relationship exists between alexithymia and body mass index (BMI) is well established, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we explore the relationship between alexithymia and depressive symptoms in relation to adiposity measures, including the direct and indirect effect of alexithymia and depressive symptoms on obesity over a 15-year time-period, in the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966).
METHODS
The study included individuals from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 (NFBC1966) who had available data for adiposity measures (body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio), alexithymia (measured by the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale: TAS-20), depressive symptoms (measured by the 13-item depression subscale of Hopkins Symptom Checklist: HSCL-13) at age of 31 years (n = 4773) and 46 years (n = 4431). Pearson's (r) correlation, and multiple linear regression were used to investigate the relationships between alexithymia, depressive symptoms, and adiposity measures. The potential mediating role of depressive symptoms was examined via Hayes' procedure (PROCESS).
RESULTS
Positive correlations were confirmed between adiposity measures (BMI and WHR) and the TAS-20 score (and its subscale), but not between obesity and HSCL-13 score. The strongest correlation was between the DIF (difficulty identifying feelings) subscale of the TAS-20 and HSCL-13 at both time points (31 y: r
LIMITATIONS
Other psychological and environmental factors such as interoception, dietary intake and physical activities may also play a role as a potential mediating factor in alexithymia-obesity relationship.
CONCLUSIONS
Our findings provide additional insights of theoretical framework of depressive symptoms mediation effect in the relationship between alexithymia and obesity. Alexithymia and depression should, therefore, be considered in the design of future clinical obesity research.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36933669
pii: S0165-0327(23)00361-0
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2023.03.026
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
1-7Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
Conflict of interest All authors declare that they have no competing interests.