Psychometric Properties of the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and Prevalence of Alexithymia in a Finnish Adolescent Population

The authors assessed, in an adolescent population sample, the internal consistency, test–retest stability, and factor structure of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS–20) and established the frequency of alexithymia in this age-group. Pupils (N = 882; age-groups: 14-, 15-, and 16-year-olds) from two secondary schools completed the TAS–20 questionnaire twice, with a 5-week interval, in a classroom survey setting. TAS total and subscale scores and proportion of subjects exceeding the cut-point for alexithymia are reported for boys and girls. In confirmatory factor analysis, all estimates except one item were statistically significant; there was no gender difference. The authors conclude that the TAS–20 has good psychometric properties in adolescent samples. Alexithymia rate decreases from early to middle adolescence and remains essentially on a level similar to that among adults.