Alexithymia and interpersonal functioning:an extension of empirical research by using a dimensional approach for interpersonal style and the structured interview for alexithymia

IntroductionThe concept of alexithymia refers to problems in experiencing and regulating affects; clinical study as well as empirical research suggests that alexithymia is related to cold and socially inhibited interpersonal functioning. However, empirical studies frequently use only self report questionnaires.Objectives/aimsThis study investigates the relation between alexithymia and self-reported interpersonal problems. By using an interview measure of alexithymia next to a questionnaire, we want to avoid artificially high correlations due to shared method variance and thus get a clearer picture of the link between alexithymia and interpersonal style. We hypothesize that alexithymia will be related to a cold, but not to a dominant or submissive interpersonal style.MethodThe Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA) was administered by a trained researcher to 74 psychiatric inpatients, who also filled out the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-64). Dimensional affiliation and dominance scores of the IIP-64 were computed and Pearson correlations between TSIA, TAS-20 and IIP-64 dimensional scores were calculated.ResultsAs hypothesized, we observed no significant correlation between TSIA, TAS-20 and the dominance dimension of the IIP-64 and a significant correlation between the affiliation dimension and TSIA and TAS-20.ConclusionsOur results support previous research and confirm that alexithymia is related to a cold interpersonal style. Since our findings converge for both measurements of alexithymia, the link between alexithymia and interpersonal style can not be explained by shared method variance. The measurement of only self-reported interpersonal problems is a limitation of this study.

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Factor Structure and Convergent Validity of the Portuguese version of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems – 32

Journal of Relationships Research ◽

10.1017/jrr.2020.18 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Author(s):

Bruno Faustino ◽

António Branco Vasco

Keyword(s):

Factor Structure ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Interpersonal Problems ◽

Brief Symptom Inventory ◽

Self Report ◽

Reactivity Index ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Portuguese Version ◽

Inventory Of Interpersonal Problems ◽

Interpersonal Styles

Abstract The identification of dysfunctional patterns in individuals’ interpersonal interactions is a cornerstone of psychotherapy. The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-32) is one of the most used measures to explore individuals’ interpersonal styles. However, an IIP-32 Portuguese version is missing. Therefore, this study describes a preliminary psychometric study of an IIP-32 Portuguese version in a nonclinical sample. In a cross-sectional correlational design, 250 participants (M age = 20.67, SD = 4.88, males = 33, females = 217) were assessed with self-report questionnaires. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA), convergent, and divergent validities of the IIP-32 were tested with the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Relationships with symptomatology were also tested with the Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI-53). The EFA showed a theoretically coherent eight-factor structure. Almost all of the IIP-32 subscales were positively correlated with personal discomfort and with BSI-53 subscales. Vindictive/self-centred, socially inhibited, domineering/controlling and self-sacrificing subscales predicted symptomatology. Promising preliminary psychometric properties were found that may support the IIP-32 as a reliable instrument to assess interpersonal styles. However, more research is required to deepen the analysis of the IIP-32 in the Portuguese population.

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Client interpersonal problems and the initial working alliance

The European Journal of Counselling Psychology ◽

10.5964/ejcop.v4i2.64 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 (2) ◽

pp. 191-204

Author(s):

Christina H. Krieg ◽

Terence J. Tracey

Keyword(s):

Multilevel Modeling ◽

Working Alliance ◽

Interpersonal Problems ◽

Self Report ◽

Training Clinic ◽

Working Alliance Inventory ◽

Inventory Of Interpersonal Problems ◽

Student Counselors ◽

University Training ◽

Relationship Of

This study examined the relationship of client pretreatment interpersonal problems (measured by the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems) to the therapeutic alliance (as measured early in treatment by a self-report version of the Working Alliance Inventory- Short), using multilevel modeling to account for client and counselor variables. Specifically, the correlations of dominance, affiliation and vindictive/self-centered interpersonal problems with the initial working alliance were investigated. Participants consisted of 144 clients and 44 graduate student counselors at a university training clinic in the southwest. Multilevel modeling revealed that there was an interaction between dominance and counselor gender with working alliance scores. Clients who had problems with dominance reported higher working alliance scores with male counselors while clients who had problems with non-assertiveness reported higher working alliance scores with female counselors. Vindictive/self-centered interpersonal problems were associated with lower initial working alliance scores regardless of counselor gender. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

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The Rorschach and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems

Rorschachiana Journal of the International Society for the Rorschach ◽

10.1027/1192-5604.29.1.3 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 3-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Robert B. Schneider ◽

Steven K. Huprich ◽

Kristi M. Fuller

Keyword(s):

Statistical Significance ◽

A Priori ◽

Interpersonal Problems ◽

Self Report ◽

Interpersonal Circumplex ◽

Implicit Measures ◽

Inventory Of Interpersonal Problems ◽

Interpersonal Difficulties ◽

The Face ◽

Rorschach Variables

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between a self-report (explicit) measure of interpersonal difficulties – the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP; Horowitz et al., 2000 ) – and the Rorschach, which includes implicit measures of self-perception and interpersonal relatedness. Seventeen a priori predictions were made regarding the face-valid associations (i.e., correlations) between the IIP and selected Rorschach variables. A sample of 62 undergraduates were administered the Rorschach and IIP. Their IIP scores were slightly higher than the normative sample reported by Horowitz et al. (1988) . Nonetheless, seven predicted relationships were statistically significant and included the following Rorschach variables: Intellectualization Index, AG, FM, S, T, Y, and MOR. These results remained significant when they were controlled for response productivity. Five of the predicted correlations approached statistical significance and included the following Rorschach variables: T, Food, Egocentricity Index, and M%. Most of the correlations were observed in the submissive hemisphere of the interpersonal circumplex. Nonsignificant results were partially explained to be the result of “heteromethod inversion” ( Bornstein, 2002 ) in which defensiveness in admitting difficulties in some interpersonal domains leads to apparent inconsistencies in explicit and implicit measures of a given trait or quality.

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Psychometric evaluation of the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems 32

Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic ◽

10.1521/bumc.2018.82.2.93 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 82 (2) ◽

pp. 93-113 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Cassandra Bailey ◽

Anna Abate ◽

Carla Sharp ◽

Amanda Venta

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Concurrent Validity ◽

Psychometric Evaluation ◽

Interpersonal Problems ◽

The United States ◽

Self Report ◽

Analytic Structure ◽

Divergent Validity ◽

Inventory Of Interpersonal Problems ◽

First Time

The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems 32 (IIP-32; Horowitz, Aiden, Wiggins, & Pincus, 2000) is a brief, 32-item, self-report questionnaire used to screen for interpersonal problems. While studies of the IIP-32's psychometric properties have been conducted in other nations, and studies have examined the psychometric properties of the IIP-32's circumplex structure, no studies have examined the factor-analytic structure in the United States since the original standardization sample. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the IIP-32 in American college women for the first time and explore its structural validity as a circumplex measure and its concurrent validity with measures of attachment. The current study found that internal consistency estimates and interscale correlations were generally high and confirmed the proposed circumplex structure. In addition, concurrent validity was evidenced by confirming theorized relations between attachment and the IIP-32 subscales. However, IIP-32 subscales were limited with regard to divergent validity.

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Pathological Traits and Interpersonal Difficulties in Depressed Older Adults: Clinical versus Community Sampling

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3234 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 898-898

Author(s):

George Lederer ◽

David Freedman ◽

Lauren Atlas ◽

Shira Kafker ◽

Ira Yenko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Personality Traits ◽

Factor Model ◽

Five Factor Model ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

Interpersonal Problems ◽

Self Report ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Inventory Of Interpersonal Problems ◽

Personality Traits And Processes

Abstract Personality pathology, represented by high neuroticism and low agreeableness in the Five Factor Model of Personality, has been identified as a predictor of depression in mixed-age samples and preliminary studies of older adults. Research on older people, however, has not examined the differential impact of pathological personality traits and processes on depression or examined them across treatment settings. This secondary analysis examined personality traits and processes as predictors of depression, evaluated the moderating effect of interpersonal problems, and assessed stratification of these personality variables across community and clinical settings. Older adults (N=395) ranging in age from 55 to 99 (M = 72.06; SD = 10.10) from inpatient psychiatric, outpatient medical, and community settings completed self-report measures of personality traits (NEO-FFI Agreeableness and Neuroticism), processes (Inventory of Interpersonal Problems), and depression (GDS-30). Higher neuroticism predicted worsened depressive symptoms (β = .765, p < .001), as did lower agreeableness (β = -.163, p = .002) and more interpersonal problems (β = .459, p < .001). Findings partially supported the stratification of personality traits and processes by setting. Interpersonal problems moderated neither the neuroticism-depression or agreeableness-depression relationships. Personality traits and processes predict depression in older adults across care settings but do not significantly interact. Levels of pathological traits and processes vary across community and clinical settings.

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Screening for Personality Disorders: A Three-Item Screener From the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-3)

Journal of Personality Disorders ◽

10.1521/pedi_2019_33_369 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 832-845

Author(s):

Paul A. Pilkonis ◽

Suzanne M. Lawrence ◽

Kelly L. Johnston ◽

Nathan E. Dodds

Keyword(s):

Personality Disorders ◽

Interpersonal Problems ◽

Self Report ◽

Receiver Operating Characteristics ◽

Operating Characteristics ◽

Predictive Values ◽

Inventory Of Interpersonal Problems ◽

Sensitivity Specificity ◽

Receiver Operating

To encourage screening for personality disorders (PDs), we developed (in previous work) self-report scales for PDs using the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP). The combined score from three of the scales—inter-personal sensitivity, interpersonal ambivalence, and aggression—requiring 15 items (IIP-15) did the best job of distinguishing between respondents with any versus no PD. The goals for the present work were (a) to cross-validate the IIP-15 by examining its performance using receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses in a new sample (N = 410), and (b) to investigate the utility of a brief three-item variant (IIP-3). The present results again documented the good operating characteristics of the IIP-15. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were all above. 70. The operating characteristics of the IIP-3 were nearly as good despite its brevity and support its use as an initial screen for PDs.

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Brief Report: Assessing Clinical Significance Using the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems

Assessment ◽

10.1177/107319119600300204 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 133-136 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Nathan B. Hansen ◽

Michael J. Lambert

Keyword(s):

Interpersonal Relations ◽

Community Sample ◽

Interpersonal Problems ◽

Self Report ◽

Interpersonal Functioning ◽

Student Sample ◽

Inventory Of Interpersonal Problems ◽

Interpersonal Difficulties ◽

Cutoff Scores ◽

Clinically Significant

A great deal of attention has been focused on the symptomatic recovery of patients undergoing psychotherapy. Secondary to this is the degree to which psychotherapies affect patients’ interpersonal relations. The Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP) is a self-report instrument developed to assess interpersonal difficulties. This study was conducted to establish cutoff scores for judging clinically significant improvement in patients' interpersonal functioning in studies of psychotherapy outcome. It was demonstrated that the IIP can distinguish among three groups, namely: (a) an asymptomatic community sample, (b) a student sample, and (c) a patient sample. Cutoff scores were established that allow researchers and clinicians to estimate the degree to which patients return to an average and ideal state of interpersonal functioning.

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Validation of the Three-Item Screener for Personality Disorders From the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-3)

Journal of Personality Disorders ◽

10.1521/pedi_2020_34_499 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-14

Author(s):

Paul A. Pilkonis ◽

Kelly L. Johnston ◽

Nathan E. Dodds

Keyword(s):

Emotion Regulation ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Interpersonal Problems ◽

Structured Interview ◽

Diagnostic Tools ◽

Global Rating ◽

Total N ◽

Inventory Of Interpersonal Problems ◽

Symptom Scores ◽

Dsm Iv

We previously developed a three-item screener for identifying respondents with any personality disorder (PD) using the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP). The current goal was to examine the convergent validity of the IIP-3 with other PD screeners and diagnostic tools and to investigate its relationship to measures of adult attachment and emotion regulation. The sample consisted of participants from five studies (total N = 852), with data from collateral informants available for a subsample (N = 353). Despite its brevity, the IIP-3 showed moderate to strong relationships with other longer PD screeners, with PD symptom scores from the Structured Interview for DSM-IV Personality (SIDP-IV), and with a global rating of PD severity. It was most sensitive to the stylistic aspects of PD typical of the traditional DSM cluster B (dramatic, expressive) PDs. These results emerged with data from both participants and informants, although correlations using informant data were generally smaller.

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