{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T06:00:03Z","timestamp":1790316003522,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1790294400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Psychol."],"abstract":"<jats:p>Alexithymia constitutes a key indicator for assessing mental-health status among college students. Employing cross-temporal meta-analytic methods, the present study synthesizes repeated cross-sectional empirical data spanning 2003 to 2024 to map secular patterns of alexithymia in Chinese undergraduate samples and characterize observational temporal covariation between lagged aggregated macrosocial indicators and alexithymia-related traits. In total, 140 eligible studies involving 141723 undergraduate participants were incorporated; analyses were restricted strictly to datasets collected using the fully validated Chinese adaptation of the TAS-20 scale. Extensive between-study heterogeneity was observed for all alexithymia-related outcome measures. Univariate meta-regression detected significant positive temporal covariation of total alexithymia, Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF), and Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF) with data-collection years, whereas Externally Oriented Thinking (EOT) exhibited no discernible temporal covariation. Multiple lagged macrosocial indicators showed bivariate observational covariation with elevated alexithymia scores. Multivariate adjusted meta-regression further revealed differentiated correlational profiles linking economic predictors to distinct alexithymia subdimensions. Supplementary sensitivity tests and publication-bias assessments were implemented to evaluate the robustness of these observational patterns, alongside explicit acknowledgment of methodological limitations intrinsic to observational meta-analytic research. Aggregated findings document secular increasing patterns in emotion-identification and emotion-description deficits across pooled college-student samples, as well as observational temporal covariation with multifaceted macrosocial transformations. The present results reflect population-level correlational covariation and provide no evidence for causal connections or intra-individual longitudinal shifts.<\/jats:p>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Systematic review registration<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      This cross\u2011temporal meta\u2011analysis is observational social\u2011science evidence\u2011synthesis and falls outside the eligibility scope of the PROSPERO registry, which mainly accepts health\u2011intervention\u2011focused systematic reviews. The study protocol, full extracted dataset and reproducible analytical R\u2011scripts have been publicly archived on the Open Science Framework (OSF). Public accessible project URL:\n                      <jats:uri>https:\/\/osf.io\/4d5pt\/<\/jats:uri>\n                      .\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1945943","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T05:33:26Z","timestamp":1790314406000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Secular temporal shifts in alexithymia among Chinese college students (2003\u20132024): a cross-temporal meta-analysis"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"17","author":[{"given":"Shizhen","family":"Yan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Health, Fujian Medical University","place":["Fuzhou, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Feng","family":"Gao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Mental Health Service Center, Yanshan University","place":["Qinhuangdao, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kexin","family":"Shi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine","place":["Beijing, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.4159\/9780674028845","volume-title":"The Ecology of human Development: Experiments by Nature and design","author":"Bronfenbrenner","year":"1979"},{"key":"ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1599","DOI":"10.3724\/SP.J.1042.2020.01599","article-title":"The psychological change of the Chinese people over the past half century: a literature review","volume":"28","author":"Cai","year":"2020","journal-title":"Adv. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1968","DOI":"10.3724\/SP.J.1042.2022.01968","article-title":"Cross-temporal changes of college students\u2019 time management disposition in the mainland of China during 1999~2020","volume":"30","author":"Chen","year":"2022","journal-title":"Adv. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref4","first-page":"593","article-title":"The effect of alexithymia on mobile phone addiction: the sequential mediating effect of negative evaluation fear and self-control","volume":"31","author":"Cheng","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chin. J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"637802","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyg.2021.637802","article-title":"Associations between mental health, interoception, psychological flexibility, and self-as-context, as predictors for alexithymia: a deep artificial neural network approach","volume":"12","author":"Edwards","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref7","first-page":"63","article-title":"The relationship between alexithymia and suicide risk in undergraduates: the chain mediating effect of impulsivity and aggressivity","volume":"2","author":"Fang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chin. J. Spec. Educ."},{"key":"ref8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"597","DOI":"10.1016\/S0022-3999(96)00223-1","article-title":"A California Q-set alexithymia prototype and its relationship to ego-control and ego-resiliency","volume":"41","author":"Haviland","year":"1996","journal-title":"J. Psychosom. Res."},{"key":"ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"218","DOI":"10.1007\/s12160-010-9210-8","article-title":"Loneliness matters: a theoretical and empirical review of consequences and mechanisms","volume":"40","author":"Hawkley","year":"2010","journal-title":"Ann. Behav. Med."},{"key":"ref10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"670863","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.670863","article-title":"A cross-sectional study investigating the relationship between alexithymia and suicide, violence, and dual harm in male prisoners","volume":"12","author":"Hemming","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref11","first-page":"88","article-title":"Role of interaction anxiousness and alexithymia between mobile phone addiction and life satisfaction of freshmen","volume":"37","author":"Hou","year":"2021","journal-title":"Occup. Health"},{"key":"ref12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"132","DOI":"10.1080\/14330237.2023.2190223","article-title":"Alexithymia and mobile phone addiction among college students: mediation by boredom proneness and anxiety","volume":"33","author":"Jiang","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Psychol. Afr."},{"key":"ref13","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1804119","DOI":"10.1080\/20008198.2020.1804119","article-title":"Myocardial infarction-induced acute stress and post-traumatic stress symptoms: the moderating role of an alexithymia trait\u2013difficulties identifying feelings","volume":"11","author":"Ledermann","year":"2020","journal-title":"Eur. J. Psychotraumatol."},{"key":"ref14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"246","DOI":"10.1186\/s40359-024-01755-0","article-title":"The relationship between social withdrawal and problematic social media use in Chinese college students: a chain mediation of alexithymia and negative body image","volume":"12","author":"Li","year":"2024","journal-title":"BMC Psychol."},{"key":"ref15","first-page":"115","article-title":"Relationship between the teenager\u2019s sense of isolation and the function of personality and family","volume":"35","author":"Li","year":"2006","journal-title":"J. Shanxi Normal University (Philos. Soc. Sci. Edition)"},{"key":"ref16","first-page":"889","article-title":"Relationship between autism traits and suicide idea: the mediating role of alexithymia and depression","volume":"27","author":"Liu","year":"2019","journal-title":"Chin. J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"230","DOI":"10.1080\/00223890701629698","article-title":"The assessment of alexithymia in medical settings: implications for understanding and treating health problems","volume":"89","author":"Lumley","year":"2007","journal-title":"J. Pers. Assess."},{"key":"ref18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"112710","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2024.112710","article-title":"Gender differences in alexithymia: insights from an updated meta-analysis","volume":"227","author":"Mendia","year":"2024","journal-title":"Pers. Individ. Differ."},{"key":"ref19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"239","DOI":"10.1007\/s40429-016-0097-8","article-title":"Alexithymia and addiction: a review and preliminary data suggesting neurobiological links to reward\/loss processing","volume":"3","author":"Morie","year":"2016","journal-title":"Curr. Addict. Rep."},{"key":"ref20","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"n71","DOI":"10.1136\/bmj.n71","article-title":"The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews","volume":"372","author":"Page","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMJ"},{"key":"ref21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"337","DOI":"10.2307\/2136676","article-title":"The stress process","volume":"22","author":"Pearlin","year":"1981","journal-title":"J. Health Soc. Behav."},{"key":"ref22","first-page":"504","article-title":"Association between parental emotion expressiveness and adolescents\u2019 behavior problem: the mediating role of the parent-child attachment and loneliness","volume":"34","author":"Peng","year":"2018","journal-title":"Psychol. Dev. Educ."},{"key":"ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"110138","DOI":"10.1016\/j.paid.2020.110138","article-title":"Assessing alexithymia: psychometric properties of the Perth alexithymia questionnaire and 20-item Toronto alexithymia scale in United States adults","volume":"166","author":"Preece","year":"2020","journal-title":"Pers. Individ. Differ."},{"key":"ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"422","DOI":"10.1038\/sj.ijir.3900905","article-title":"Prevalence of erectile dysfunction: a systematic review of population-based studies","volume":"14","author":"Prins","year":"2002","journal-title":"Int. J. Impot. Res."},{"key":"ref25","first-page":"894","article-title":"A cross-temporal meta-analysis of changes of resilience level in Chinese college students","volume":"37","author":"Shi","year":"2023","journal-title":"Chin. Ment. Health J."},{"key":"ref26","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"137","DOI":"10.1176\/ajp.153.7.137","article-title":"Alexithymia: past and present","volume":"153","author":"Sifneos","year":"1996","journal-title":"Am. J. Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"6966","DOI":"10.1007\/s12144-020-01181-6","article-title":"Depression in Chinese adolescents from 1989 to 2018: an increasing trend and its relationship with social environments","volume":"41","author":"Su","year":"2020","journal-title":"Curr. Psychol."},{"key":"ref28","first-page":"32","article-title":"Employment attributes, current status, and characteristics of China\u2019s youth population","volume":"12","author":"Tang","year":"2024","journal-title":"People's Tribune"},{"key":"ref29","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"134","DOI":"10.1177\/070674370004500203","article-title":"Recent developments in alexithymia theory and research","volume":"45","author":"Taylor","year":"2000","journal-title":"Can. J. Psychiatr."},{"key":"ref30","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1007","DOI":"10.1037\/0022-3514.79.6.1007","article-title":"The age of anxiety? The birth cohort change in anxiety and neuroticism, 1952\u20131993","volume":"79","author":"Twenge","year":"2000","journal-title":"J. Pers. Soc. Psychol."},{"key":"ref31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"413","DOI":"10.1016\/S0191-8869(00)00033-7","article-title":"Validity and reliability of the Bermond\u2013Vorst alexithymia questionnaire","volume":"30","author":"Vorst","year":"2001","journal-title":"Pers. Individ. Differ."},{"key":"ref32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"774952","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2021.774952","article-title":"Prevalence and correlates of alexithymia and its relationship with life events in Chinese adolescents with depression during the COVID-19 pandemic","volume":"12","author":"Wang","year":"2021","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."},{"key":"ref33","first-page":"78","article-title":"A cross-temporal meta-analysis of alexithymia among Chinese adolescents","volume":"53","author":"Wang","year":"2024","journal-title":"J. Inner Mongolia Normal University (Natural Sci. Edition)"},{"key":"ref34","first-page":"98","article-title":"China\u2019s changing family structure and adolescent development","volume":"2","author":"Wu","year":"2018","journal-title":"Soc. Sci. China"},{"key":"ref35","first-page":"288","article-title":"A cross-temporal meta-analysis of changes in Chinese college students\u2019 achievement motivation during 1999-2014","volume":"35","author":"Xin","year":"2019","journal-title":"Psychol. Dev. Educ."},{"key":"ref36","first-page":"648","article-title":"Changes in college students' anxiety level in 1993-2009: a cross-temporal meta-analysis","volume":"27","author":"Xin","year":"2011","journal-title":"Psychol. Dev. Educ."},{"key":"ref37","first-page":"763","article-title":"The Chinese version of the TAS-20: reliability and validity","volume":"17","author":"Yi","year":"2003","journal-title":"Chin. Ment. Health J."},{"key":"ref38","first-page":"25","article-title":"The reliability and validity of Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20)","volume":"16","author":"Yuan","year":"2003","journal-title":"Sichuan Mental Health"},{"key":"ref39","first-page":"111","article-title":"Spatiotemporal transformation of network society and risk aversion of teenagers socialization","volume":"47","author":"Zhai","year":"2018","journal-title":"J. Anhui Normal University (Human. Soc. Sci.)"},{"key":"ref40","first-page":"383","article-title":"Alexithymia and aggression among adolescents: the mediating role of boredom proneness","volume":"28","author":"Zhang","year":"2020","journal-title":"Chin. J. Clin. Psychol."},{"key":"ref41","first-page":"398","article-title":"A review of researches on cognitive and social mechanism of alexithymia","volume":"19","author":"Zhang","year":"2011","journal-title":"Adv. Psychol. Sci."},{"key":"ref42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"38","DOI":"10.1186\/s12888-025-07651-0","article-title":"Prevalence of alexithymia in Chinese adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"26","author":"Zhong","year":"2026","journal-title":"BMC Psychiatry"},{"key":"ref43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1043521","DOI":"10.3389\/fpsyt.2022.1043521","article-title":"The moderating effect of alexithymia on the relationship between stress and cyberchondria","volume":"13","author":"Zhou","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front. Psychol."}],"container-title":["Frontiers in Psychology"],"original-title":[],"link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1945943\/full","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]],"date-time":"2026-09-25T05:33:32Z","timestamp":1790314412000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1945943\/full"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"references-count":42,"alternative-id":["10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1945943"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpsyg.2026.1945943","relation":{},"ISSN":["1664-1078"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1664-1078","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,25]]},"article-number":"1945943"}}