First validity evidences of the Brazilian brief Toronto Alexitimia Scale (BbTAS-12) using Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling with a sample of adolescents

Abstract

Introduction: Alexithymia is a construct characterized by a subclinical inability to identify and describe emotions and an externally-oriented thinking.

Objective: To test the three-dimensional theoretical model proposed by Parker et al. (1994) (DDF, DIF, EOT), when evaluated by a brief version of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (BbTAS-12).

Method: BbTAS-12 was used in a sample of 801 adolescents (from 13 to 19 years of age), of both genders (52.1% male), in order to test its first evidences of validity via Exploratory Structural Equation (ESEM) Modeling and the internal consistency index.

Results: The results of the general model (GFI = .99; AGFI = .97; χ2 / gl = 1,14; RMSEA = .035; PCLOSE > .5; CFI = .98; TLI = .97), are excellent and explain 51% of the construct variance, confirming also the three dimension-structure. Both the internal consistency of the total (αt = .72; Omegat = .69) and the theoretically proposed dimensions (αDDF = .67; OmegaDDF = .68; αDIF = .73; OmegaDIF = .73; αEOT = 0,56; OmegaEOT = .57) showed results varying from acceptable to adequate. The internal consistency of the full scale (BbTAS-12) is adequate, with the exception of the EOT dimension. The results are discussed considering the studies conducted with this population in several countries.

Conclusion: BbTAS-12 is an especially promising scale for the measure Alexithymia in Brazilian adolescents. However, it is possible to improve the content of some items considering the reading skills and the cultural context of adolescents.