Nazmiye ARDUÇ
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine - 2026;9(3):583-590
Aims: Aggression is influenced by both interpersonal threat sensitivity and internal emotional processing mechanisms. However, the relative contributions of rejection sensitivity, alexithymia, and emotional expressivity remain insufficiently clarified in adult populations. To examine the associations among aggression, rejection sensitivity, alexithymia, and emotional expressivity and to determine their predictive roles in aggressive behavior. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted using an online survey. The sample consisted of 406 adults aged 18-58 years (53.9% female). Aggression (Buss-Durkee Aggression Scale), Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire, Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), and Berkeley Expressivity Questionnaire were administered. Results: Aggression showed positive correlations with rejection sensitivity (r=.41, p<.001) and alexithymia (r=.35, p<.001), and a negative correlation with emotional expressivity (r=-.21, p<.001). In multiple regression analysis, rejection sensitivity (beta=.35, p<.001) and alexithymia (beta=.27, p<.001) significantly predicted aggression, explaining 24% of variance (R²=.24). Emotional expressivity was not a significant predictor (beta=-.01, p=.867). Conclusion: Aggression appears to be more strongly linked to deficits in emotional awareness and heightened interpersonal rejection sensitivity than to emotional expressivity. Interventions targeting emotional identification and rejection-related cognitive biases may reduce aggressive tendencies.
