Content area

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate psychometric properties and relations between two different methods of measuring alexithymia and one measure of emotional awareness in a German non-clinical sample. The 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA), and the Levels of Emotional Awareness Scale (LEAS), which is a performance-based measure of emotional awareness, were administered to 84 university students. Both internal reliability and inter-rater reliability for the TSIA were acceptable. Results from exploratory factor analysis (EFA) based on all measures supported a three factorial solution previously obtained in an American sample using multiple methods of alexithymia and emotional ability measurement. In our three factor model direct self (TAS-20), direct other (TSIA), and indirect self (LEAS) measures were differentiated. The convergent validity of the TSIA was supported by a significant correlation with the LEAS. Our findings suggest that future research on alexithymia and emotional awareness can benefit from the use of a multi-method approach and should include objective measures.

Details

Title
Assessing alexithymia and emotional awareness: Relations between measures in a German non-clinical sample
Author
Lichev, Vladimir; Rufer, Michael; Rosenberg, Nicole; Ihme, Klas; Grabe, Hans-Jörgen; Kugel, Harald; Donges, Uta-Susan; Kersting, Anette; Suslow, Thomas
Pages
952-959
Publication year
2014
Publication date
May 2014
Publisher
Elsevier Limited
ISSN
0010440X
e-ISSN
15328384
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1518121717
Copyright
Copyright Elsevier Limited May 2014