Dawn Neumann1, Barbra Zupan, James F Malec, Flora Hammond. 1. Indiana University School of Medicine, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Rehabilitation Hospital of Indiana, Indianapolis (Drs Neumann, Malec, and Hammond); and Department of Applied Linguistics, Brock University, St Catharines, Ontario, Canada (Dr Zupan).
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine (1) alexithymia, affect recognition, and empathy differences in participants with and without traumatic brain injury (TBI); (2) the amount of affect recognition variance explained by alexithymia; and (3) the amount of empathy variance explained by alexithymia and affect recognition. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty adults with moderate-to-severe TBI; 60 age and gender-matched controls. PROCEDURES: Participants were evaluated for alexithymia (difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally-oriented thinking); facial and vocal affect recognition; and affective and cognitive empathy (empathic concern and perspective-taking, respectively). RESULTS: Participants with TBI had significantly higher alexithymia; poorer facial and vocal affect recognition; and lower empathy scores. For TBI participants, facial and vocal affect recognition variances were significantly explained by alexithymia (12% and 8%, respectively); however, the majority of the variances were accounted for by externally-oriented thinking alone. Affect recognition and alexithymia significantly accounted for 16.5% of cognitive empathy. Again, the majority of the variance was primarily explained by externally-oriented thinking. Affect recognition and alexithymia did not explain affective empathy. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that people who have a tendency to avoid thinking about emotions (externally-oriented thinking) are more likely to have problems recognizing others' emotions and assuming others' points of view. Clinical implications are discussed.
OBJECTIVES: To determine (1) alexithymia, affect recognition, and empathy differences in participants with and without traumatic brain injury (TBI); (2) the amount of affect recognition variance explained by alexithymia; and (3) the amount of empathy variance explained by alexithymia and affect recognition. PARTICIPANTS: Sixty adults with moderate-to-severe TBI; 60 age and gender-matched controls. PROCEDURES: Participants were evaluated for alexithymia (difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally-oriented thinking); facial and vocal affect recognition; and affective and cognitive empathy (empathic concern and perspective-taking, respectively). RESULTS:Participants with TBI had significantly higher alexithymia; poorer facial and vocal affect recognition; and lower empathy scores. For TBI participants, facial and vocal affect recognition variances were significantly explained by alexithymia (12% and 8%, respectively); however, the majority of the variances were accounted for by externally-oriented thinking alone. Affect recognition and alexithymia significantly accounted for 16.5% of cognitive empathy. Again, the majority of the variance was primarily explained by externally-oriented thinking. Affect recognition and alexithymia did not explain affective empathy. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that people who have a tendency to avoid thinking about emotions (externally-oriented thinking) are more likely to have problems recognizing others' emotions and assuming others' points of view. Clinical implications are discussed.
Authors: Lyn S Turkstra; Sarah G Kraning; Sarah K Riedeman; Bilge Mutlu; Melissa Duff; Sara VanDenHeuvel Journal: Brain Impair Date: 2016-12-13 Impact factor: 1.727
Authors: Dawn Neumann; Angelle M Sander; Susan M Perkins; Surya Sruthi Bhamidipalli; Flora M Hammond Journal: J Head Trauma Rehabil Date: 2021 Jan-Feb 01 Impact factor: 3.117