Alexithymia Profiles and Associated Factors Among Older Stroke Patients in China: A Latent Profile Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify latent profiles of alexithymia among older stroke patients and examine factors associated with profile membership. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 286 older stroke patients in a tertiary hospital in Jilin Province, China. Alexithymia was assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Latent profile analysis was performed to identify alexithymia profiles, and multinomial logistic regression was used to examine associated factors. RESULTS: Three profiles were identified based on difficulty identifying feelings (DIF): low DIF (n = 51, 17.8%), moderate DIF (n = 142, 49.7%), and high DIF (n = 93, 32.5%). TAS-20 scores increased across profiles, with the greatest differences observed in DIF. DDF scores were relatively similar across profiles, while EOT did not show a progressive increase. Older age, lower educational attainment, greater chronic disease burden, poorer activities of daily living, and higher anxiety symptoms were associated with the high DIF profile. CONCLUSIONS: Older stroke patients showed heterogeneous alexithymia profiles mainly characterized by increasing DIF. Profile-based assessment may provide clinically useful information beyond total alexithymia scores. CLINICAL IMPLICATION: Early identification of alexithymia profiles may support targeted psychological assessment, rehabilitation planning, and caregiver support.