An Examination of Alexithymia Levels in Pregnant Women with and without Gestational Hypertension

Introduction: Gestational hypertension (GHT) is a common pregnancy-related hypertensive disorder that presents not only obstetric risks but may also adversely impact maternal emotional well-being. One psychological construct relevant in this context is alexithymia, characterized by difficulties in identifying, describing, and processing emotions. Although both conditions have been studied independently, their potential relationship remains insufficiently explored in the literature.
Methods: This cross-sectional, descriptive, and correlational study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare center between August 30 and December 15, 2023. A total of 67 pregnant women at or beyond the 20th gestational week were enrolled, including 32 with a diagnosis of GHT and 35 normotensive controls. Data were collected using a sociodemographic questionnaire and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Statistical analyses included independent samples t-tests, chi-square tests, and Pearson correlation analysis.
Results: Demographic and obstetric characteristics were comparable between groups. However, the GHT group had significantly higher TAS-20 total scores (50.88±8.40) than the control group (45.46±7.92; p=0.0086). Subscale analyses showed significantly higher scores in Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF) and Externally Oriented Thinking (EOT) among GHT participants, while Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF) did not differ. The prevalence of definite alexithymia (TAS-20 ≥61) was greater in the GHT group (21.8%) than in controls (8.6%).
Discussion and Conclusion: Pregnant women with GHT exhibit higher levels of alexithymia, particularly in emotional awareness and externally focused cognitive styles. These findings highlight the importance of incorporating psychological screening into routine prenatal care for women with hypertensive pregnancies.

Keywords: Gestational hypertension; Alexithymia; Pregnancy; Mental health