The Relationship between Alexithymia and Socially Learned Helplessness

This study explores the relationship between alexithymia and socially learned helplessness. The research employed a questionnaire method, using a self-designed general demographic questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and a Learned Helplessness Questionnaire (LHQ) to survey adults in Gansu Province. The aggregate of 431 questionnaires were captured from the internet. After organizing the data, SPSS 26.0 was used for data analysis. The results showed a significant correlation between alexithymia and socially learned helplessness (ps < 0.001), with alexithymia positively predicting socially learned helplessness (β = 0.745, t = 27.872, p < 0.001). Enhanced concentrations of alexithymia were concomitant with higher degree of socially learned helplessness. These results indicate that individuals ought to prioritize improving their emotional expression abilities, as this can help reduce the tendency toward socially learned helplessness and promote mental and physical health.