Beyond Emotional Awareness: Examining the Link Between Alexithymia and Disordered Eating with the Moderating Role of Resilience in University Students

Introduction: Disordered eating behaviors are prevalent among university students and are closely linked to deficits in emotional processing. Alexithymia has been identified as a key vulnerability factor, whereas resilience may function as a protective mechanism.Method: This cross-sectional, correlational study examined ۳۵۰ university students in Karaj, Iran. Participants completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-۲۰), the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM).Results: Alexithymia was positively associated with emotional and external eating, while resilience was negatively associated with these behaviors. The structural model demonstrated good fit indices. Moderator analysis revealed that resilience significantly reduced the relationship between alexithymia and disordered eating; weaker associations were observed at higher levels of resilience.Conclusion: Alexithymia is a significant risk factor for disordered eating behaviors, while resilience is a protective factor that buffers its effects. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating both risk and resilience frameworks into prevention and intervention programs aimed at addressing disordered eating among university students.

کلیدواژه ها:

Alexithymia ، Disordered Eating ، Resilience ، University Students ، Emotional Eating ، Structural Equation Modeling