as well as some evidence of convergent validity. However, the items that loaded on Factor 2 (‘Difficulty relating
to others’) are not directly related to alexithymia. These items are more related to other constructs including
extraversion, and thus the AOSC measure is less fit for research into the relations between alexithymia and such
personality factors.
Toronto Alexithymia Scale for Children (TAS-12)
(Heaven et al., 2010; Rieffe et al., 2010 ).
Variable
Some authors have tried to adapt the TAS-20 in such a way that it could be used with adolescents
and children.
Sample
The sample in the Heaven et al. (2010) study comprised 944 children from three different schools (modal
age513 years; 324 males; 332 females; 140 children did not indicate their gender). Only 84.3% (796) of these chil-
dren returned properly completed measures. The sample used by Rieffe et al. (2010) consisted of 579 Iranian ele-
mentary and middle school children (281 boys; 298 girls; M512.2 years; range 10 to 15).
Description
The decreases in the above mentioned Parker et al. (2010) study were especially dramatic for the EOT subscale,
as was demonstrated before by Rieffe et al. (2006), and Sa¨kkinen et al. (2007) . Thus, some authors dropped the
EOT items from the TAS-20 when used with children, resulting in the TAS-12. This scale covers the original two
TAS-20 factors/subscales: ‘Difficulty identifying feelings’ (DIF, 7 items), and ‘Difficulty describing feelings’
(DDF, 5 items). Furthermore Rieffe et al. (2010) rephrased the items into children’s language, and changed the
original 5-point Likert-type response scale into a simpler 3-point scale. Thus, there are two versions of the
TAS-12, which will be discussed together.
Reliability
Internal Consistency
Heaven et al. (2010) reported a Cronbach alpha coefficient of .87 (with the non-rephrased version) in a sample
of 796 eight-year-old school children.
Validity
Construct/Factor Analytic
Heaven et al. (2010) reported that a principal axis factor analysis with oblimin rotation ( N5796) undertaken
on the intercorrelations of the 12 non-rephrased items produced a one-factor solution, with loadings varying
between .43 and .74. Likewise, Rieffe et al. (2010) using rephrased items reported that, a principal components
analysis carried out on the item intercorrelations ( N5579) also resulted in a unidimensional solution with factor
loadings exceeding .35 for all items but one (loading .28).
Criterion/Predictive
Heaven et al. (2010) reported that scores on the non-rephrased TAS-12 correlated ( $.30) in a group of 796 chil-
dren (modal age 13 years) with Positive and Negative Affect Schedule /C0Expanded Form, subscales fear, hostil-
ity, sadness, and self-esteem. Likewise, Rieffe et al. (2010) reported that in a group of 12-year-olds ( N5579, range
10/C015 years), scores on the rephrased TAS-12 measure correlated positively with subscales of the Mood
Questionnaire somatic complaints (.36) worry/rumination (.54), anger (.31), sadness (.43), and fear (.26), respec-
tively. Furthermore, children ( M513 years) diagnosed with cancer ( N5343) scored more highly on the
rephrased 12-item scale compared with controls ( N5246), and the difference was directly related to the severity
of their illness ( Mishra, Maudgal, Theunissen, & Rieffe 2012 ).
Location
Heaven, P.C.L., Ciarrochi, J. & Hurrell, K. (2010). The distinctiveness and utility of a brief measure of alexithy-
mia for adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 49, 222 /C0227.249 SELF-RATING SCALES
III. EMOTION REGULATION