A Study of Alexithymia and Dissociative Experiences in Soldiers and Male University Students

AimThe purpose of the present study was to compare alexithymia and dissociative experiences in soldiers and male students.MethodUsing a randomized and stratified cluster sampling method and a causal comparative design, a sample of 183 males recruited to do their military service and 208 male university students was selected. Data were collected using a demographi c data sheet, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and the Dissociative Experiences Scale and analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and Pearson's correlation coefficients.ResultsFindings indicate that total alexithmia scores correlated positively with total scores on dissociative experiences. Difficulty identifying feelings and externally oriented thinking were associated with depersonalization and derealization, and externally oriented thinking was also associated with amnestic dissociation. While soldiers and university students did not differ in total scores on dissociative experiences, soldiers tended to score higher on alexithymia. Furthermore, soldiers scored higher on difficulty in identifying feelings and externally oriente d thinking and lower on imaginative involvement. The two groups did not differ in terms of difficulty in describing feelings, amnestic dissociation, depersonalization and derealization. A comparison of single and married males revealed greater involvement and less externally oriented thinking in unmarried males.