Alexithymia and satisfaction in intimate relationships

The present study examined the relationship between alexithymia and satisfaction in intimate relationships. One hundred and fifty-eight undergraduate students taking a first year psychology course completed the 20-item Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20) and two measures of relationship satisfaction: overall satisfaction with the relationship and sexual satisfaction in the relationship. Path analysis revealed a moderate negative relationship between alexithymia and both relationship satisfaction variables. These results support previous studies demonstrating a strong link between alexithymia and a host of interpersonal problems.