Latent profile analysis and associated factors of alexithymia among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Background: Alexithymia is one of the most common psychological characteristics observed in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and is associated with poorer health outcomes. The negative impact of alexithymia on physical illness is reflected in more severe clinical symptoms and poorer quality of life, which adversely affect clinical outcomes and further increase disease burden, potentially contributing to a cycle of worsening health status. Therefore, timely identification of the psychological characteristics of patients with COPD, along with early psychological support, may help improve the quality of life of patients with COPD. Objectives: To explore the latent profiles of alexithymia among patients with COPD and to analyze their associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 312 patients with COPD using convenience sampling between October 2024 and March 2025. Sociodemographic characteristics, physiological and disease-related information, psychospiritual information, environmental factors, and alexithymia scores were collected. Latent profile analysis, univariate analysis, and multinomial logistic regression were conducted to identify alexithymia profiles and examine factors associated with profile membership. Results: The results of this study showed that patients with COPD were categorized into three alexithymia profiles: high (28.85%), moderate (63.46%), and low (7.69%). COPD duration, depression, activity intensity, self-perceived social support, psychological resilience, and anxiety were associated with different alexithymia profiles among patients with COPD. Conclusion: This single-center cross-sectional study identified three preliminary alexithymia profiles (high, moderate, and low) among patients with COPD. Due to potential selection bias resulting from convenience sampling, these findings require validation in multicenter studies before generalization. The observed associations among COPD duration, depression, activity intensity, social support, resilience, and anxiety provide empirical evidence to inform the development of tailored patient classification and targeted support strategies for early identification, with the goal of improving quality of life in this population.