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Alexithymia is a personality trait associated with difficulties in identifying and communicating personal feelings. It is shown to be a risk factor for affective disorders. Previous studies have demonstrated the co-occurrence of alexithymia and early life stress in clinical samples; however, research in the absence of psychological and somatic disorders rarely exists. We therefore investigated alexithymia and early life stress in a high alexithymic but healthy community sample (n= 46) in comparison with low alexithymic healthy subjects (n= 44). Alexithymia was assessed by the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire. Emotional functioning was also measured using the Emotional Experience Scales. Early life stress was assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Early Trauma Inventory. There was a significantly positive correlation between alexithymia and early emotional …