Measurement Invariance of English and French Language Versions of the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn A. Watters ◽  
Graeme J. Taylor ◽  
Lindsay E. Ayearst ◽  
R. Michael Bagby

Abstract. The alexithymia construct is commonly measured with the 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), with more than 20 different language translations. Despite replication of the factor structure, however, it cannot be assumed that observed differences in mean TAS-20 scores can be interpreted similarly across different languages and cultural groups. It is necessary to also demonstrate measurement invariance (MI) for language. The aim of this study was to evaluate MI of the English and French versions of the TAS-20 using data from 17,866 Canadian military recruits; 71% spoke English and 29% spoke French as their first language. We used confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) to establish a baseline model of the TAS-20, and four increasingly restrictive multigroup CFA analyses to evaluate configural, metric, scalar, and residual error levels of MI. The best fitting factor structure in both samples was an oblique 3-factor model with an additional method factor comprised of negatively-keyed items. MI was achieved at all four levels of invariance. There were only small differences in mean scores across the two samples. Results support MI of English and French versions of the TAS-20, allowing meaningful comparisons of findings from investigations in Canadian French-speaking and English-speaking groups.

2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (2) ◽  
pp. 393-404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reitske Meganck ◽  
Samuel Markey ◽  
Stijn Vanheule

This study investigated the psychometric properties of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS–20) in an adolescent sample ( N = 406, ages 12 to 17). This is rarely done even though the TAS–20 is used in adolescent research. Five published factor models were tested. For good fitting models, a second-order model with alexithymia as a higher-order factor and metric invariance across sex and age groups was tested. Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the original three-factor model and a four-factor model provided acceptable fit. Both models were invariant across sex, but not across age. Second-order models did not provide good fit. Reliability was good for the “Difficulty identifying feelings” subscale and acceptable for the “Difficulty describing feelings” subscale, but not for the “Externally oriented thinking” subscale. Measuring alexithymia with the TAS–20 in adolescents thus seems problematic, especially in younger age groups.


2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paulo Martins ◽  
António Rosado ◽  
Vítor Ferreira ◽  
Rui Biscaia

AbstractThe teaching personal-social responsibility (TPSR) model is a well-established approach for developing positive social behaviors. However, today's research community has diagnosed the need to gather greater empirical evidence regarding the consistency of the evaluation tool in measuring personal-social responsibility levels. Thus, this study was geared towards testing the validity and reliability of a two factor model of the Personal and Social Responsibility Questionnaire (PSRQ) among athletes. A questionnaire was administered to 517 athletes, distributed into two representative samples of different competitive levels, sports and regions. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to examine the PSRQ's factor structure. The scale showed good psychometric properties and the factor structure was stable in the two samples, providing evidence of cross validity. Implications and research directions of these results are discussed.


2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 206-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahel Bachem ◽  
Andreas Maercker

Abstract. The present study introduces a revised Sense of Coherence (SOC) scale, a new conceptualization and operationalization of the resilience indicator SOC. It outlines the scale development and aims for testing its reliability, factor structure, and validity. Literature on Antonovsky’s SOC (SOC-A) was critically reviewed to identify needs for improving the scale. The scale was investigated in two samples. Sample 1 consisted of 334 bereaved participants, Sample 2 of 157 healthy controls. The revised SOC Scale, SOC-A, and theoretically relevant questionnaires were applied. Explorative and confirmatory factor analyses established a three-factor structure in both samples. The revised SOC Scale showed significant but discriminative associations with related constructs, including self-efficacy, posttraumatic growth, and neuroticism. The revised measure was significantly associated with psychological health indicators, including persistent grief, depression, and anxiety, but not to the extent as the previous SOC-A. Stability over time was sufficient. The study provides psychometric support for the revised SOC conceptualization and scale. It has several advantages over the previous SOC-A scale (unique variance, distinct factor structure, stability). The scale could be used for clinical and health psychological testing or research into the growing field of studies on resilience over the life span.


2009 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jörg-Tobias Kuhn ◽  
Heinz Holling

The present study explores the factorial structure and the degree of measurement invariance of 12 divergent thinking tests. In a large sample of German students (N = 1328), a three-factor model representing verbal, figural, and numerical divergent thinking was supported. Multigroup confirmatory factor analyses revealed that partial strong measurement invariance was tenable across gender and age groups as well as school forms. Latent mean comparisons resulted in significantly higher divergent thinking skills for females and students in schools with higher mean IQ. Older students exhibited higher latent means on the verbal and figural factor, but not on the numerical factor. These results suggest that a domain-specific model of divergent thinking may be assumed, although further research is needed to elucidate the sources that negatively affect measurement invariance.


2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohsen Joshanloo ◽  
Ali Bakhshi

Abstract. This study investigated the factor structure and measurement invariance of the Mroczek and Kolarz’s scales of positive and negative affect in Iran (N = 2,391) and the USA (N = 2,154), and across gender groups. The two-factor model of affect was supported across the groups. The results of measurement invariance testing confirmed full metric and partial scalar invariance of the scales across cultural groups, and full metric and full scalar invariance across gender groups. The results of latent mean analysis revealed that Iranians scored lower on positive affect and higher on negative affect than Americans. The analyses also showed that American men scored significantly lower than American women on negative affect. The significance and implications of the results are discussed.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (10) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Eun-Young Park ◽  
Joungmin Kim

We aimed to verify the factor model and measurement invariance of the abbreviated Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale by conducting a confirmatory factor analysis using data from 761 parents of individuals with intellectual disabilities who completed the scale as part of the 2011 Survey on the Actual Conditions of Individuals with Developmental Disabilities, South Korea, and 7,301 participants from the general population who completed the scale as part of the 2011 Welfare Panel Study and Survey by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea. We used fit indices to assess data reliability and Amos 22.0 for data analysis. According to the results, the 4-factor model had an appropriate fit to the data and the regression coefficients were significant. However, the chi-square difference test result was nonsignificant; therefore, the metric invariance model was the most appropriate measurement invariance model for the data. Implications of the findings are discussed.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Brittany DeFeis ◽  
Gelan Ying ◽  
Andrea M. Kurasz ◽  
Liselotte De Wit ◽  
Priscilla Amofa ◽  
...  

Background: In Alzheimer’s disease and related disorders (ADRD) research, common outcome measures include cognitive and functional impairment, as well as persons with mild cognitive impairment (pwMCI) and care partner self-reported mood and quality of life. Studies commonly analyze these measures separately, which potentially leads to issues of multiple comparisons and/or multicollinearity among measures while ignoring the latent constructs they may be measuring. Objective: This study sought to examine the latent factor structure of a battery of 12-13 measures of domains mentioned above, used in a multicomponent behavioral intervention (The HABIT® program) for pwMCI and their partners. Methods: Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) involved 214 pwMCI-partner pairs. Subsequent Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) used 730 pairs in both pre- and post-intervention conditions. Results: EFA generated a three-factor model. Factors could be characterized as partner adjustment (29.9%), pwMCI adjustment (18.1%), and pwMCI impairment (12.8%). The subsequent CFA confirmed our findings, and the goodness-of-fit for this model was adequate in both the pre- (CFI = 0.937; RMSEA = 0.057, p = 0.089) and post-intervention (CFI = 0.942; RMSEA = 0.051, p = 0.430) groups. Conclusion: Results demonstrated a stable factor structure across cohorts and intervention conditions suggesting that three broad factors may provide a straightforward and meaningful model to assess intervention outcome, at least during the MCI phase of ADRD.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wiebke Bleidorn ◽  
Christopher James Hopwood ◽  
Robert A. Ackerman ◽  
Edward A. Witt ◽  
Christian Kandler ◽  
...  

We adopted an expert-rating approach to generate a consensus Five Factor Model (FFM) profile of the psychologically healthy person. In addition, we collected ratings from scholars with expertise in positive psychology and two samples of undergraduate psychology students to examine the agreement within and between different groups of raters. We then examined the reliability, heritability, rank-order stability, external validity, and normativeness of this expert-generated FFM profile of the healthy personality using data from seven different samples (N > 3,000). To do this, we computed a healthy FFM score for each participant by using intraclass q-correlation to match individual FFM profiles to the healthy personality prototype. Through these analyses, we aim to provide an initial but nonetheless comprehensive description of the nature and correlates of the healthy personality from a contemporary basic trait perspective.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1297-1306 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhengjia Ren ◽  
Ralph W Hood

This study reports the development of an inventory to assess the perceived internalized homophobia of gay men in a collectivistic Chinese cultural context. The results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses using two samples suggested the viability and stability of a three-factor model: internalized heteronormativity (IHN), family-oriented identity (FOI), and socially oriented identity (SOI). The 11-item internalized homophobia inventory demonstrated good internal consistency and construct validity. Internalized homophobia was related positively to the extent of a sense of loneliness and negatively to self-evaluation and the discrepancy in self-identification as a gay man. In addition, the participants’ internalized SOI consistently predicted their coming out choices in their social surroundings, while their FOI predicted their decisions to enter into heterosexual marriages. The findings suggest that sexual self-prejudice was correlated with IHN, family values, and social norms. The present research demonstrates that a culturally sensitive scale is necessary to understand the cultural and family-oriented values that influence gay Chinese men’s everyday lives, self-constructs, and behavioral choices.


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