Description

The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26) is a psychometric tool designed to assess alexithymia, a psychological condition characterized by difficulty in identifying and describing emotions. This scale is widely used in research and clinical practice to understand the relationship between alexithymia and mental health.

Purpose

The main objectives of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-26) are to:
Assess alexithymia: Measure a person’s tendency to struggle with recognizing and expressing their emotions.
Understand its impact on mental health: Examine how alexithymia relates to various psychological disorders, such as depression and anxiety disorders.
Support therapeutic processes: Provide information that can guide therapeutic interventions and support strategies for individuals with alexithymia.

Analysis

The analysis of the TAS-26 includes the following:
Structure and Content:
The TAS-26 consists of 26 items that assess three core dimensions of alexithymia:
Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF): Assesses the individual’s ability to recognize their emotions and distinguish them from bodily sensations.
Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF): Evaluates the individual’s ability to verbally express their emotions to others.
Externally-Oriented Thinking (EOT): Involves a cognitive style focused more on external events than on internal emotional experiences.
Statistical Analysis:
Includes reliability and validity testing through methods such as factor analysis and internal consistency evaluation (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha).

Scoring

Scoring the TAS-26 involves:
Total Alexithymia Score: A cumulative score that reflects the individual’s overall level of alexithymia.
Subscale Scores: Separate scores for the three dimensions (DIF, DDF, and EOT).
Responses are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from “never” to “always,” allowing participants to express how strongly they agree with statements about their emotional experiences and reactions.

References

Taylor, G. J., Ryan, D. P., & Bagby, R. M. (1985). Toward the Development of a New Self-Report Alexithymia Scale. Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, 44(4), 191–199.
Bagby, R. M., Taylor, G. J., & Parker, J. D. A. (1994). The Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale—I. Item Selection and Cross-Validation of the Factor Structure. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 38(1), 23–32.
Taylor, G. J., & Bagby, R. M. (2013). Psychoanalysis and Empirical Research: The Example of Alexithymia. Journal of the American Psychoanalytic Association, 61(1), 99–133.