Assessing alexithymia: Psychometric properties of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire and 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale in United States adults. (1st November 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Preece, David A.; Becerra, Rodrigo; Allan, Alfred; Robinson, Ken; Chen, Wai; Hasking, Penelope; Gross, James J.
• Is Part Of: Personality and individual differences. Volume 166(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-11-01
• Subjects: Alexithymia -- Assessment -- Psychometric -- Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire -- Toronto Alexithymia Scale -- United States of America; Personality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Individuality -- Periodicals; Personality Development -- Periodicals; Personnalité -- Périodiques; Individualité -- Périodiques; 155.205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2020.110138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0191-8869

Abstract

Abstract: Alexithymia is a trait involving difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, and externally orientated thinking. Over the past two decades, it has usually been assessed using the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20). Recently, the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) was developed to provide more detailed facet-level (and valence-specific) analysis. To date, no studies have compared these two measures, and few data are available on the PAQ. We examined the psychometric properties of the PAQ and TAS-20 in United States adults ( N = 675). Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that both measures had a theoretically congruent factor structure. While the PAQ assessed alexithymia for both negative and positive emotions, the TAS-20 assessed alexithymia only for negative emotions. All PAQ and TAS-20 subscales had good reliability, except for the TAS-20 externally orientated thinking subscale. Pearson correlations supported the convergent validity of both measures. We conclude that the PAQ and TAS-20 both have strong qualities and assess a similar alexithymia construct, however, the PAQ appears to provide a more comprehensive facet-level profile. Highlights: Overall, the PAQ and TAS-20 both displayed good factorial and convergent validity. However, the TAS-20 assessed alexithymia only for negative (not positive) emotions. Our PAQ analyses highlighted the importance of assessing both emotional valences. All PAQ scores had good reliability, but the TAS-20 EOT score did not. The PAQ therefore appeared to provide a more comprehensive facet-level profile.