The relationship between alexithymia and alcohol-related risk perceptions: The moderating effect of general trauma in a college population

The current study explored the moderating influence of general trauma exposure (GTE) on the relationship between alexithymia and alcohol-related risk perceptions. Undergraduate college students (N = 237) completed a battery of self-report measures. After controlling for relevant variables, results indicated that the interaction between alexithymia and GTE significantly predicted alcohol-related risk perception. Simple effects revealed that for students who reported higher rates of GTE, alexithymia positively predicted risk perception; this relationship did not exist among students with lower GTE. Exploratory analyses indicated that despite increased risk perception, individuals with GTE also reported greater alcohol-related problems compared to students with low trauma exposure. The current study highlights the importance of examining risk perception abilities in individuals with alexithymia and GTE as well as the impact of risk perception on alcohol-related risk behaviors.