How does understanding of emotions impact on suicide and aggression?
Research type
Research Study
Full title
What is the relationship between alexithymia and risky behaviours such as suicide and aggression in a male prisoner population? A cross-sectional study.
IRAS ID
236345
Contact name
Laura Hemming
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 31 days
Research summary
Alexithymia can be described as a difficulty with understanding and describing emotions. Research has found that alexithymia is closely related to risky behaviours such as suicide and aggression in a range of populations. Prisoner populations in the UK experience higher rates of these risky behaviours than in the general population, and in relation to this, alexithymia rates have also been found to be relatively higher in prison populations. This study aims to explore the relationship between alexithymia and risky behaviours in a male prisoner population. The study will use a cross-sectional design to examine the impact of alexithymia, as well as confounding variables such as depression, impulsivity and emotion coping skills on outcomes of suicidal ideation and behaviour as well as aggressive ideation and behaviour. Should a relationship be found between alexithymia and risky behaviours, this will have profound implications for the prevention of risky behaviours within a prison population.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
18/ES/0022
Date of REC Opinion
6 Mar 2018
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion