SynthesisBMC psychology2026
Alexithymia in nurses: a context-specific concept analysis using rodgers's evolutionary methodology.
Synthesis in BMC psychology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
backgroundAlexithymia, a personality construct characterized by difficulties in identifying and describing emotions, as well as a tendency toward externally-oriented thinking, has significant implications for psychological well-being and interpersonal functioning. In the nursing profession, where emotional awareness and communication are essential, alexithymic traits may contribute to psychological distress and compromised patient interactions. However, its contextual manifestations and professional relevance within nursing remain insufficiently clarified. Rather than treating alexithymia in nurses as a wholly independent concept from general alexithymia, this study aimed to clarify how the concept is contextually specified within nursing practice using Rodgers' evolutionary concept analysis, thereby enhancing psychological understanding and informing support strategies.
methodsA systematic literature search was conducted across CNKI, Wanfang, VIP, Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to January 17, 2026. Following Rodgers' evolutionary framework, we analyzed the concept's evolution, surrogate terms, related concepts, attributes, antecedents, consequences, and exemplars. A total of 52 articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in the analysis.
resultsThe analysis identified six antecedent conditions associated with alexithymia in nurses, including demographic characteristics, occupational environment, emotional intelligence, social support, psychological resilience and self-esteem stability.Three core attributes emerged: difficulties in identifying and describing emotions, externally-oriented thinking, and somatic manifestations of emotional experience. Consequences associated with alexithymia in nurses were identified at multiple levels, including individual psychological outcomes (e.g., burnout, reduced well-being), interpersonal effects (e.g., impaired nurse-patient communication), and organizational implications (e.g., increased turnover intention). The findings also indicate that the practical impact of alexithymia in nurses extends to therapeutic engagement and relational care within clinical settings.
conclusionsThis concept analysis provides a comprehensive conceptualization of alexithymia in nurses, clarifying its context-specific manifestations and professional relevance within healthcare settings. The findings offer a theoretical foundation for future research, context-sensitive assessment in nursing practice, and targeted interventions to support nurses' emotional processing and mental health. For healthcare administrators and psychologists, these insights highlight the importance of addressing occupational factors associated with alexithymia and implementing structured, evidence-informed strategies to strengthen nurses' psychological resilience and emotional awareness, ultimately supporting better mental health outcomes and quality of patient care.
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