Exploring Factor Validity of 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) in Albanian Clinical and Nonclinical Samples

Abstract

This study aims to examine the factor structure and validity of the Albanian TAS-20 (Toronto Alexithymia Scale) using a sample comprised of 342 students and 196 patients from a psychiatric clinic. Based on a literature review of studies of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), three types of models were tested: first-order models with method factors and covariances, a second-order model with method factors and covariances, and nested models with method factors and covariances. The findings suggest that a three-factor correlated model with method factors was the best and most parsimonious solution for the clinical sample, exhibiting adequate levels of performance based on the goodness of fit criteria. However, regarding the student sample, the nested three-factor model with method factors and covariances demonstrated a superior fit when compared with the other tested models. Although the total scale of difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) and difficulty describing feelings (DDF) scores provided sound internal consistency, the externally oriented thinking (EOT) subscale did not. Nonetheless, as the CFA suggests the plausibility of negatively keyed items in the method factors, further interpretation of this scale is suggested. This study concludes that the TAS-20 of the Albanian language is appropriate for research purposes, and further research is needed for its application for clinical practice.