“No Words for Feelings”: Alexithymia in Children With Cystic Fibrosis and Their Caregivers

AIM: Children with cystic fibrosis (CF) face significant physical and psychological challenges due to their chronic condition, which may affect emotional regulation and sleep quality. Alexithymia, characterized by difficulties in identifying and expressing emotions, has been linked to psychological distress and poor health outcomes in chronic illnesses. However, its prevalence and impact on CF patients and their caregivers remain underexplored. This study investigates alexithymia in children with CF and their mothers, examining its association with sleep disorders and depression. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 36 children with CF aged 9-18 years and their mothers. Emotional regulation was assessed using the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) for both groups. Sleep quality in children was evaluated by Sleep Disturbance Scale for Children (SDSC), and maternal depression was assessed using the Beck Depression Scale (BDS). Clinical parameters, including pulmonary function tests (PFTs), modified Shwachman-Kulczycki (mSK), and BMI z-scores, were analyzed for correlations with alexithymia. RESULTS: Alexithymia was prevalent in 58.3% of children and 55.6% of mothers. Higher TAS-20 scores in children correlated with worse SDSC scores (r = 0.55, p < 0.001), indicating significant sleep disturbances. Maternal TAS-20 scores correlated with BDS scores (r = 0.61, p < 0.001), reflecting a strong association with depression. No significant correlations were observed between TAS-20 scores and clinical parameters. CONCLUSION: Alexithymia is prevalent among children with CF and their mothers, contributing to poor sleep in children and maternal depression. Routine psychological screening for emotional regulation difficulties in both patients and caregivers may enhance the quality of CF care and improve emotional and clinical outcomes.