Caffeine Use and Alexithymia in University Students
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 13913495 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Michael Lyvers (0000-0002-8355-3182, corresponding author), Natalija Duric (Bond University), Fred Arne Thorberg (0000-0002-8835-7631, University of Oslo) |
| Year | 2014 |
| Volume | 46 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 340-346 |
| Publication date | 2014-08-08 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Journal of Psychoactive Drugs (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0279-1072 • E-ISSN: 2159-9777 |
| Publisher | Taylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/02791072.2014.942043 |
| PMID | 25188705 |
| OpenAlex | W2045004052 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 3 |
| References cited | 40 |
Alexithymia refers to difficulties with identifying, describing, and regulating one's own emotions. This trait dimension has been linked to risky or harmful use of alcohol and illicit drugs; however, the most widely used psychoactive drug in the world, caffeine, has not been examined previously in relation to alexithymia. The present study assessed 106 male and female university students aged 18-30 years on their caffeine use in relation to several traits, including alexithymia. The 18 participants defined as alexithymic based on their Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) scores reported consuming nearly twice as much caffeine per day as did non-alexithymic or borderline alexithymic participants. They also scored significantly higher than controls on indices of frontal lobe dysfunction as well as anxiety symptoms and sensitivity to punishment. In a hierarchical linear regression model, sensitivity to punishment negatively predicted daily caffeine intake, suggesting caffeine avoidance by trait-anxious individuals. Surprisingly, however, TAS-20 alexithymia scores positively predicted caffeine consumption. Possible reasons for the positive relationship between caffeine use and alexithymia are discussed, concluding that this outcome is tentatively consistent with the hypo-arousal model of alexithymia
Alexithymia · Anxiety · Anxiety sensitivity · Arousal · Caffeine · Developmental psychology · Psychiatry · Punishment (psychology · Toronto Alexithymia Scale · Trait · Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes · Clinical Psychology · Psychology · Psychosomatic Disorders and Their Treatments · Social Psychology
The Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ) as a measure of Gray's anxiety and impulsivity dimensions
The role of impulsivity in the development of substance use and eating disorders
The 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale
The twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia scale—I. Item selection and cross-validation of the factor structure
Alexithymia and alcohol
Disinhibition and reward sensitivity in relation to alcohol consumption by university undergraduates
Risky alcohol use and age at onset of regular alcohol consumption in relation to frontal lobe indices, reward sensitivity, and rash impulsiveness
Coping with Inner Feelings and Stress
Risky Cannabis Use is Associated with Alexithymia, Frontal Lobe Dysfunction, and Impulsivity in Young Adult Cannabis Users
Individual differences affecting caffeine intake. Analysis of consumption behaviours for different times of day and caffeine sources
Impulsivity and time of day
| Citations per year | 0.33 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2017 - 2021 (5) |
| Highly cited | No |