فاعلية الإرشاد السلوكي الجدلي في خفض بعض أعراض الألكسيثيميا لدى طلاب كلية التربية بأسيوط
Alexithymia has been studied in both Arab and foreign settings because of its negative effects on individuals. Accordingly, this leads to conducting therapeutic and counseling interventions to reduce this disorder symptoms. The present study aims to determine the effectiveness of dialectical behavioral counseling on reducing some symptoms of alexithymia for student teachers at Faculty of Education - Assiut University. Another aim is to determine the prevalence rate of alexithymia among student teachers at Faculty of Education - Assiut University. The third aim is to identify the differences in levels of alexithymia according to gender (males, females), specialization field (scientific sections, literary sections), and residence area (rural areas, urban areas) among student teachers at Faculty of Education - Assiut University. The study sample was divided into: a pilot study sample consisted of (160) student teachers to validate the psychometric tools of the study, and a main study sample consisted of (740) student teachers between the age of (19-22) with an average age of (254.17) months, and a standard deviation of (1.94). The researcher used Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) (Taylor, Bagby & Parker, 1994) (Translated by the researcher). In addition, participants in the program included (12) student teachers, divided into two groups: control group (N=6), and experimental group (N=6) that received a counseling program based on Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) (Prepared by the researcher). The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between the mean scores of males and females on Toronto Alexithymia Scale in favor of females in the second dimension of alexithymia (difficulty describing feelings), and the total degree of alexithymia. On the other hand, there were no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of males and females in the first dimension (difficulty identifying feelings), and the third dimension (externally oriented thinking). Moreover, there were no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of student teachers on (TAS-20) in the specialization field (scientific sections, literary sections). Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences between the mean scores of student teachers on (TAS-20) in the residence area (rural areas, urban areas). The results also indicated that the prevalence rate of alexithymia among student teachers at Faculty of Education - Assiut University was (20.95%). Also, results revealed a statistically significant effectiveness of dialectical behavioral counseling program on reducing symptoms of alexithymia for student teachers in the experimental group after the end of the program sessions. Additionally, the continuity of its effectiveness after one and a half months of follow-up. Results of the study were explained in the light of theoretical background and related studies, and some recommendations were formulated. (Author’s abstract)