The effect of alexithymia on distress disclosure among nurses: the mediating role of resilience

Distress disclosure has been proven to enhance the mental health of nurses. Although previous research has identified a negative association between alexithymia and distress disclosure, studies on their relationship are limited, particularly regarding their potential mediators. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate whether alexithymia is a negative predictor of distress disclosure among nurses and to explore the mediating effects of resilience between distress disclosure and alexithymia. A multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted in five hospitals in China, involving 828 nurses. Multiple linear regression was used to identify the predictors of distress disclosure, and structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was used to analyze the mediating effect. Hierarchical multiple regression revealed that alexithymia and resilience significantly influenced distress disclosure among nurses. Based on SEM analysis, resilience served as a partial mediator of the effects of alexithymia and distress disclosure. The findings of this study suggest that interventions that aim to reduce alexithymia and increase psychological resilience may be beneficial in promoting distress disclosure among nurses.