The role of post-traumatic stress disorder on emotional alexithymia and psychological distress in people with HIV: The mediating role of defense styles

Aghasadeghi, Marjan; Shahmoradi, Somayeh; Seyed Alinaghi, Seyed Ahmad

doi:10.22059/japr.2026.392047.645193

The role of post-traumatic stress disorder on emotional alexithymia and psychological distress in people with HIV: The mediating role of defense styles

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Marjan Aghasadeghi ¹

somayeh shahmoradi ²

Seyed Ahmad Seyed Alinaghi ³

¹ Graduate Of Aras International Campus University Of Tehran

² Department of educational psychology and counseling, Faculty of psychology and educational sciences, university of Tehran, Tehran, Iran

³ Associate Professor, Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High Risk Behaviors Sciences, Tehran, Iran

10.22059/japr.2026.392047.645193

Abstract

This study aimed to present a causal model for predicting post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) based on alexithymia and psychological distress, with the mediating role of defense styles in individuals with HIV. The research employed a descriptive-correlational design using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of 2,000 individuals with HIV who had active medical records in 2023 at the Counseling Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran. Based on the sample size formula and random sampling, 240 eligible individuals receiving antiretroviral medication were selected. Data were collected using the Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Checklist (Weathers & Litz, 1994), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (Bagby et al., 1994), the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (2002), and the Defense Style Questionnaire (Andrews et al., 1993). Data analysis was conducted using path analysis and SEM via AMOS 26 software. The findings indicated that the proposed model had a good fit and that defense styles mediated the relationships between PTSD, alexithymia, and psychological distress. Given the unique psychological challenges and disease-related stress experienced by individuals living with HIV, these findings can help mental health professionals develop preventive and therapeutic interventions to reduce psychological harm and improve mental health outcomes in this population.

Keywords

Post-traumatic stress disorder

alexithymia

psychological distress

defense styles