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Relação entre traços de autismo e alexitimia e a deteção emocional
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Abstract(s)
A capacidade de detetar emoções faciais é fundamental para promover interações sociais adequadas e possibilitar uma comunicação eficaz. Estudos anteriores sugerem que dificuldades na perceção emocional encontrados em indivíduos com traços elevados de autismo podem ser explicados pela presença de traços de alexitimia. O presente estudo procura avaliar o impacto destes traços na capacidade de deteção de emoções a diferentes distâncias, refletindo as variações de proximidade do mundo real que podem influenciar significativamente o processamento emocional. 37 participantes (12 homens e 25 mulheres) com idades entre os 18 e 40 anos realizaram uma tarefa de deteção emocional de expressão facial com distâncias variadas, sendo pedido ao participante para categorizar o estímulo como uma face emocional ou neutra. Por fim os participantes completaram dois questionários, que visavam medir os seus traços de autismo (QA – 16+) e alexitimia (TAS-20). Como esperado, os resultados indicaram que a distância afeta significativamente a deteção adequada das expressões faciais e que a deteção de alegria é preservada em distâncias mais longas comparativamente às restantes emoções. Os resultados sugerem ainda a existência de défices na deteção de emoções a maiores distâncias associados a traços de autismo mais elevados. No entanto, quando o efeito da alexitimia é considerado, os défices de deteção emocional associados aos traços de autismo desaparecem, indicando que estes efeitos se devem a traços de alexitimia concomitantes. Em suma, este estudo destaca o papel da alexitimia nas dificuldades de deteção emocional observadas em indivíduos com traços elevados de autismo, especialmente a maiores distâncias.
The ability to detect facial emotions is crucial to maintain appropriate social interactions enabling effective communication. Previous studies have suggested that difficulties in emotional perception associated with higher autism traits may be explained by the presence of alexithymia traits. The present study seeks to evaluate the impact of these traits on the ability to detect emotions at different distances, which reflect real-world variations in distance that can significantly influence emotional processing. 37 participants (12 men and 25 women) aged between 18 and 40 years, performed an emotion detection task at varying distances, where participants were asked to categorize stimuli as an emotional or neutral face. Finally, participants completed two questionnaires, which aimed to measure autism (AQ – 16+) and alexithymia traits (TAS- 20). As expected, the results indicate that distance significantly affects the adequate detection of facial expressions and that the detection of happiness is preserved at longer distances compared to other emotions. The results also suggest that higher autism traits are associated with emotion detection deficits at longer distances. However, these deficits disappear when taking into account the effect of alexithymia, indicating that deficits in emotion processing associated with autism might be due to co-occurring alexithymia traits. In summary, this study highlights the role of alexithymia in the emotional detection difficulties observed in individuals with elevated autism traits, especially at greater distances.
The ability to detect facial emotions is crucial to maintain appropriate social interactions enabling effective communication. Previous studies have suggested that difficulties in emotional perception associated with higher autism traits may be explained by the presence of alexithymia traits. The present study seeks to evaluate the impact of these traits on the ability to detect emotions at different distances, which reflect real-world variations in distance that can significantly influence emotional processing. 37 participants (12 men and 25 women) aged between 18 and 40 years, performed an emotion detection task at varying distances, where participants were asked to categorize stimuli as an emotional or neutral face. Finally, participants completed two questionnaires, which aimed to measure autism (AQ – 16+) and alexithymia traits (TAS- 20). As expected, the results indicate that distance significantly affects the adequate detection of facial expressions and that the detection of happiness is preserved at longer distances compared to other emotions. The results also suggest that higher autism traits are associated with emotion detection deficits at longer distances. However, these deficits disappear when taking into account the effect of alexithymia, indicating that deficits in emotion processing associated with autism might be due to co-occurring alexithymia traits. In summary, this study highlights the role of alexithymia in the emotional detection difficulties observed in individuals with elevated autism traits, especially at greater distances.
Description
Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada no Ispa – Instituto Universitário para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica.
Keywords
Autismo Alexitimia Emoções Expressões faciais Processamento de emoções à distância Autism Alexithymia Emotions Facial expressions Emotion processing across distances
Citation
Raposo, M. (2024). Relação entre traços de autismo e alexitimia e a deteção emocional [Dissertação de Mestrado]. Ispa – Instituto Universitário.