EMOTION REGULATION AND ALEXITHYMIA: PRECURSORS OF EATING DISORDER SYMPTOMS
The association between alexithymia and eating disorders is now well established. However, the precursors to such an association are not well known. Based on a series of psychoanalytic models, this study attempts to deepen current knowledge by testing the role of two emotion regulation strategies (expressive suppression and cognitive reappraisal) as predictors of this relationship. It is proposed that the constant suppression of emotions, will predict alexithymia personality traits, witch favours emotion dysregulation and thus eating disorder symptoms. Inversely, the use of cognitive reappraisal would negatively predict alexithymic personality traits, which would negatively predict ED symptoms. The hypothetical sequences were confirmed.