Objective: The aim of our study was to determine the relationship
between depressive symptoms, alexithymia, emotion regulation
difficulties and empathy in adolescents with social anxiety disorder and
to compare the findings with healthy controls.
Method: Our study included a total of 100 adolescents aged 12-18
years, consisting of 50 with social anxiety disorder (SAD) who applied
to the child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic between June
2022 and November 2022, and 50 healthy controls. Participants
were evaluated with Beck Depression Inventory, Social Anxiety Scale
for Adolescents, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Difficulties in Emotion
Regulation Scale and Basic Empathy Scale.
Results: Alexithymia, depressive symptoms and emotion regulation
difficulties were significantly higher in adolescents diagnosed with
social anxiety disorder compared to healthy controls, but no significant
difference was found in empathy skills. The severity of social anxiety
disorder was significantly related to depressive symptoms, alexithymia,
and emotion regulation difficulties. Logistic regression analysis revealed
maternal age, depressive symptoms, and alexithymia as the factors
associated with social anxiety disorder in adolescents.
Conclusion: Our study shows that depressive symptoms, alexithymia,
and emotion regulation difficulties may be observed in adolescents with
social anxiety disorder, and it is important to consider these factors in
clinical assessment and intervention processes.
Keywords: Adolescent, alexithymia, depression, empathy, emotion
regulation, social anxiety disorder