The relationship between the latent profiles of alexithymia and self-disclosure in female patients with pelvic floor dysfunction

Vollständiger Abstract

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Background Alexithymia is common among female patients with pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and has been associated with negative emotions, poorer quality of life, impaired disease management, and reduced self-disclosure. This study aimed to identify latent profiles of alexithymia among female patients with PFD, examine factors associated with profile membership, and investigate the association between these profiles and self-disclosure. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with 450 female patients with PFD in Urumqi, Xinjiang, China, from December 2025 to April 2026. Data were collected using a general information questionnaire, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and the Distress Disclosure Index (DDI). Latent profile analysis was employed to identify distinct alexithymia profiles. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze sociodemographic variables within each profile, and ANOVA was used to examine relationships between alexithymia profiles and self-disclosure. Results Alexithymia in female patients with PFD can be categorized into three profiles: low-level alexithymia group( n = 87, 19.3%), the moderate alexithymia group( n = 309, 68.7%), and high-level alexithymia group( n = 54, 12.0%). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that age, educational level, per capita monthly household income, and duration of illness were significantly associated with membership in alexithymia profiles. Total self-disclosure scores different significant across the three alexithymia profiles among female patients with PFD ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Alexithymia in female patients with PFD can be categorized into three profiles, with significant differences in self-disclosure levels across these subgroups. Assessing alexithymia may help identify high-risk patients with insufficient self-disclosure and provide a basis for stratified, individualized support for emotional expression and communication. Future longitudinal studies are needed to clarify further the temporal and causal relationships between alexithymia and self-disclosure.