Alexithymia, meaning, and well-being: how emotional processes relate to meaning in life and calling in career
Date
2018
Authors
O'Connor, William F., author
Dik, Bryan J., advisor
Rickard, Kathryn M., committee member
Peila-Shuster, Jacqueline J., committee member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Abstract
Emotional factors such as positive affect and empathy have been proposed as key factors influencing the constructs of meaning in life and calling in career. Alexithymia, or difficulty identifying and describing one's emotional experience, represents an emotional factor that has not been examined in relationship to either meaning in life or calling. This study used self-report measures to examine relationships between meaning in life, alexithymia, and psychological well- being along with relationships between calling, alexithymia, and career development well-being. Results revealed a significant, negative relationship between alexithymia and meaning in life. Furthermore, analyses provided evidence that meaning in life partially mediated the relationship between alexithymia and psychological well-being variables. The relationship between calling and alexithymia was non-significant. Results suggest that the ability to identify and describe one's emotions and discernment of meaning in one's life are linked and jointly influence psychological well-being. Limitations of the current study and implications for theory, practice, and future research are discussed.