Alexithymia: reliability and validity of the Spanish version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale

Psychother Psychosom. 1989;51(3):162-8. doi: 10.1159/000288151.

Abstract

This study was conducted to explore reliability and validity from the Spanish version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS). An alpha coefficient of 0.78, and a test-retest reliability of 0.83 over a 3-week period were obtained. In a sample of 111 college students, TAS correlated strongly and positively with the hypochondriasis subscale of the MMPI and with a somatization disorder questionnaire, but negatively with measures of sociability and psychological mindedness. In addition, factor analysis showed the TAS to have a stable, replicable factor structure. These findings suggest that this Spanish adaptation of the TAS is a psychometrically sound measure of the alexithymia construct.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Affective Symptoms / diagnosis*
  • Affective Symptoms / psychology
  • Cross-Cultural Comparison*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personality Tests*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reference Values
  • Sick Role
  • Somatoform Disorders / diagnosis
  • Uruguay