Science of Emotion and Sensibility (감성과학)

Korean Society for Emotion and Sensibility (한국감성과학회)
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Exploring the Moderating Effect of Big Five Personality Traits on the Relationship between Alexithymia and Depression

감정표현불능증과 우울의 관계에서 성격 5요인의 조절효과 탐색

  • 조명현 (고려대학교 4단계 BK21 심리학교육연구단) ;
  • 조은산 (서강대학교 심리학과) ;
  • 안도연 (한신대학교 심리.아동학부)
  • Received : 2023.01.11
  • Accepted : 2023.02.02
  • Published : 2023.03.31
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Abstract

Previous studies on emotion have repeatedly suggested that alexithymia is an important predictor of depression. Therefore, this study examined whether the relationship between these two variables can be moderated by personality factors, focusing on the Big five personality traits. An online survey of 312 college students, including alexithymia, depression, and Big five personality traits (Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability, and Openness to Experience) was conducted. As the results, as expected, alexithymia predicted depression, which was in line with the existing research flow. In addition, moderation analysis revealed that agreeableness, emotional stability, and openness to experience moderated the relationship between alexithymia and depression, while extraversion and conscientiousness did not. This study has an important implication in that it discriminated which specific personality traits function as moderators in the process of increasing depression due to alexithymia.

기존의 정서연구들에서는 감정표현불능증이 우울의 중요한 예측변인이라는 점을 반복적으로 제시하고 있다. 이에 본 연구에서는 이러한 두 변인의 관계가 성격요인에 의해 조절될 수 있는지를 성격 5요인을 중심으로 살펴보았다. 312명의 대학생을 대상으로 감정표현불능증, 우울, 성격 5요인을 포함한 온라인 설문을 실시하고 조절효과를 확인해 보았다. 분석 결과, 감정표현불능증은 우울을 예측하여 기존 연구 흐름과 맥을 같이 하였다. 또한, 조절효과를 검증한 결과, 우호성, 정서적 안정성, 개방성은 감정표현불능증과 우울 간의 관계를 조절한 반면, 외향성과 성실성은 조절하지 않았다. 본 연구의 결과는 자신의 감정을 제대로 인지하지 못하고 표현하지 못하는 것이 우울을 높일 수 있는데, 이를 완화하는 데는 우호적이고 정서적으로 안정적이며 개방적인 성격이 도움이 된다는 점을 제시하였다. 본 연구는 감정표현불능증에 의해 우울이 증가하는 과정에서 어떤 구체적인 성격특질이 조절변인으로 기능하는지를 변별적으로 제시하였다는 중요한 함의를 갖고 있다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 논문은 한신대학교 학술연구비 지원으로 수행되었음

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