Differential roles of alexithymia components in linking autistic traits to personal distress and empathy concern

PurposeThe alexithymia hypothesis proposes that the empathy deficits commonly found in ASD are driven mainly by coexisting alexithymia, not by ASD itself. Yet, empirical research has produced mixed evidence for this explanation. To further clarify this issue, the present study focused on how different component of alexithymia, such as, difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally oriented thinking link autistic traits to two aspects of emotional empathy: personal distress and empathy concern.MethodA total of 730 participants took part in the investigation and completed three questionnaires assessing autistic traits, alexithymia, and emotional empathy.ResultAnalyses revealed a divergent pattern in emotional empathy. Elevated autistic traits predicted heightened personal distress alongside diminished empathy concern. Mediation analyses further indicated that specific components of alexithymia accounted for these associations. Difficulty identifying feelings had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between autistic traits to heightened personal distress, whereas externally oriented thinking had a significant indirect effect on the relationship between autistic traits and empathy concern.ConclusionThese findings highlight the complex and multifaceted influence of alexithymia on empathy in individuals with elevated autistic traits and point to potential intervention strategies for enhancing empathy and social functioning in individuals on the autism spectrum.