Factorial Validity and Measurement Invariance of the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale in Clinical and Nonclinical Samples  

Oleh:

Meganck, Reitske ; Vanheule, Stijn ; Desmet, Mattias

Jenis: Article from Journal - ilmiah internasional
Dalam koleksi: Assessment vol. 15 no. 1 (Mar. 2008), page 36-47.
Topik: Alexithymia; factorial validity; 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale; measurement invariance
Fulltext: 36.pdf (530.82KB)

Isi artikel

The most widely used instrument to measure alexithymia is the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). However, different factor structures have been found in different languages. This study tests six published factor models and metric invariance across clinical and nonclinical samples. It also investigated whether there is a method effect of the negatively keyed items. Second-order models with alexithymia as a higher order factor are tested. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the original factor model with three factors—difficulty identifying feelings (DIF); difficulty describing feelings (DDF) and externally oriented thinking (EOT)—is the best fitting model. Partial measurement invariance across samples was illustrated but requires further study. A weakness of the model is the low internal consistency of the third factor. Because models with a method factor had a better fit, future reconsideration of the negatively formulated items seems necessary. No evidence was found for the secondorder models.

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