Cross-cultural validation of a Chinese translation of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale

• DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2007.04.007
• Publication Date: 2007-07-06T11:20:34Z
• Authors: Xiongzhao Zhu; Jinyao Yi; Shuqiao Yao; Andrew G. Ryder; Graeme J. Taylor; R. Michael Bagby
• Keywords: Adult; Cross-Cultural Comparison; Male; Adolescent; 05 social sciences; Reproducibility of Results; Middle Aged; Asian People; Surveys and Questionnaires; Humans; Female; Translations; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Affective Symptoms; Factor Analysis, Statistical; Aged; Language

The purpose of the present study was to develop a Chinese translation of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20-C) and examine its reliability and factorial validity.The original English version of the TAS-20 was first translated into Chinese and then backtranslated and modified until cross-language equivalence was established. This version was then completed by 870 undergraduate students and 179 clinical patients in China. Internal reliability, retest reliability, and factorial validity were evaluated.The TAS-20-C showed adequate internal and retest reliability in both samples. Average TAS-20-C scores in Chinese samples were slightly higher than, but comparable to, TAS-20 scores in English-speaking Canadian samples; as well, scores were higher in the clinical sample than in the student sample. Finally, confirmatory factor analysis supported the 3-factor structure of the TAS-20 in both samples.The TAS-20-C is a promising instrument for reliable and valid measurement of alexithymia in China.