Taylor et al. (1985) developed the TAS to measure alexithymic traits in accordance with theoretical knowledge, to prevent social desirability bias in responses and to ensure high internal consistency. The scale consists of 26 items and each item is evaluated on a five-point Likert-type scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Increasing scores indicate an increase in alexithymic tendency.
In the study of Taylor et al. (1985), it was found that the TAI consists of 4 sub-dimensions.
The first sub-dimension (TAS-1) is the ability to distinguish and recognize one's emotions and bodily sensations,
The second sub-dimension (TTS-2) is thinking about external events rather than their own internal experiences,
The third sub-dimension (TTS-3) is the ability to verbally express emotions,
The fourth sub-dimension (TAS-4) is related to the ability to imagine.
These 4 dimensions explained 31.8% of the total variance. The first factor accounted for 12.3% of the total variance (Cronbach's α = .83), 7.0% of the second factor (Cronbach's α = .72), 6.4% of the third factor (Cronbach's α = .72), and 6.4% of the total variance (Cronbach's α = .72).4% (Cronbach's α = .64) and the last factor explained 6.1% of the variance (Cronbach's α = .69). Taylor et al. (1985), in their study on the development of the TTS, reported that the total internal consistency of the scale was .79 and the two-half-test reliability was .67. In addition, the test-retest reliability coefficient of the scale was found to be .82 for a 1-week period and .75 for a 5-week period.
The scale was translated into Turkish and reliability and validity studies were conducted by Dereboy (1990, 1991). The internal reliability coefficient of the Turkish TTS is .65 and the test-retest reliability is .70 (Okyayuz 1993).
Alexithymia Test is a scale that helps you evaluate your experiences in terms of alexithymia and measure your level of alexithymia. The scale is used by scoring the relevant items. The score you obtain as a result of scoring the test items determines your level of alexithymia according to this scale.
The first form of the TAS was developed with 26 items and four sub-dimensions. In the first revision of the scale, the number of items was reduced to 23 and the number of sub-dimensions to two. In the second revision of the scale, the third form was organized with a three-factor structure with 20 items. There are also scales developed to measure alexithymia in children and adolescents. The Alexithymia Observation Scale for Children, the forms of the TAQ adapted for children in two different studies, the Children'sThe Toronto Alexithymia Scale/Scales, Emotional Awareness Test and the revised version of this test are the tests prepared for this group.
In a study conducted in our country, the literature on the structure of alexithymia, its primary and secondary features, and its continuity and categorical nature was reviewed.r review and discussion were made and an attempt was made to determine the cut-off score of the Turkish adaptation of the 20-question Toronto Aleximia Scale (TAS) developed by Bagby et al. to allow the assessment of the presence of aleximic structure. Method: This study was conducted with 100 consecutive outpatients admitted to Erenköy Mental and Neurological Diseases Training and Research Hospital Psychiatry Outpatient Clinic. The participants were administered the 20- and 26-item TAQ scales and a sociodemographic data collection form. Results: Eighty-four of the participants were female and the mean age was 26.41 ± 1.15 years. According to the "10" and "11" points determined in the TAS-26; it was deemed appropriate to take "51" as the lower value and "59" as the upper value for TAS-20. Conclusion: If alexithymics are not to run away, the score of "51" should be taken as the lower value; if a pure alexithymic group is to be studied (according to the score of "11" determined in TAS-26), the score of "59" should be taken as the upper value.
References:
* Dereboy İF (1990) A Study on the Psychometric Properties of Alexithymia Self-report Scales (Unpublished Specialization Thesis), Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine.
* Dereboy IF (1991) Alexithymia: A Review. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, 1:(3)157-165.
* Okyayuz ÜH (1993) Investigation of the Usability Conditions of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Courtauld Emotion Control Scale in a Turkish Sample. Turkish Journal of Psychiatry, 4:18-23.