A comparison of the associations between alexithymia and both non-suicidal self-injury and risky drinking: The roles of explicit outcome expectancies and refusal self-efficacy

Both Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) and risky drinking are positively associatedwith alexithymia, a personality trait characterised by difficulties appraising feelings and anexternally orientated thinking style. Although researchers have studied the associationsbetween alexithymia and both NSSI and risky drinking, the underlying factors of bothassociations are rarely compared. In the current study, we compare the indirect effects ofbehaviour-specific outcome expectancies and self-efficacy beliefs on the associationsbetween alexithymia and both NSSI and risky drinking. A sample of 627 university students(76.10% female, Mage = 20.75, SD = 1.88) completed a battery of questionnaires.Alexithymia exhibited indirect effects on NSSI via affect regulation expectancies, painexpectancies, communication expectancies, and low self-efficacy to resist NSSI. Alexithymiaexhibited indirect effects on risky drinking via expectations of increased confidence andnegative consequences. However, the indirect effects differed depending on the valance ofthe emotion the individual had difficulties appraising. Our findings indicate that theunderlying factors in the associations between alexithymia and both NSSI and risky drinkingcould differ. Where individuals who have difficulties appraising negative emotions mayengage in NSSI to help regulate negative feelings, they may consume alcohol to gain moreconfidence in expressing their feelings. Clinical implications are discussed.