Titre du document / Document title

An alexithymia questionnaire for children : Factorial and concurrent validation results

Auteur(s) / Author(s)

RIEFFE Carolien ⁽¹⁾ ; OOSTERVELD Paul ⁽²⁾ ; TERWOGT Mark Meerum ⁽³⁾ ;

Affiliation(s) du ou des auteurs / Author(s) Affiliation(s)

⁽¹⁾ Developmental Psychology, Leiden University, P. O. Box 9555, 2300 RB Leiden, PAYS-BAS
⁽²⁾ Psychological Methods, University of Amsterdam, Roeterstraat 15, 1018 WB Amsterdam, PAYS-BAS
⁽³⁾ Developmental Psychology, Free University, vd Boechorststraat I, 1081 BT Amsterdam, PAYS-BAS

Résumé / Abstract

Alexithymia refers to a limited ability to identify and communicate one's feelings, which has been frequently associated with physical health complaints and negative moods. The many studies that have been conducted with adults have identified three core factors in alexithymia: Difficulty Identifying Feelings, Difficulty Describing Feelings and Externally-Oriented thinking. This three-factor structure of alexithymia was also identified in children of two age groups (740 children recruited from primary schools (mean age 11 years) and secondary schools (mean age 13 years)), although the factor Externally-Oriented Thinking showed low factor loadings and a low reliability. The predictive value of the questionnaire was also satisfactory. Consistent with the adult literature, the results showed that the factors Difficulty Identifying Feelings and Difficulty Describing Feelings contributed to the prediction of self-reported somatic complaints in children, but the factor Externally-Oriented Thinking failed to do so. Directions for future research aiming at measuring alexithymia are discussed.

Revue / Journal Title

Personality and individual differences   ISSN 0191-8869   CODEN PEIDD9 

Source / Source

2006, vol. 40, n^o1, pp. 123-133 [11 page(s) (article)] (18 ref.)

Langue / Language

Anglais

Editeur / Publisher

Elsevier, Oxford, ROYAUME-UNI  (1980) (Revue)

Mots-clés anglais / English Keywords

Human ; Adolescent ; Child ; Personality ; Psychometrics ; Test validation ; Convergent validity ; Test reliability ; Mood ; Emotion emotionality ; Somatic complaint ; Alexithymia ; Evaluation scale ; Questionnaire ;

Mots-clés français / French Keywords

Homme ; Adolescent ; Enfant ; Personnalité ; Psychométrie ; Validation test ; Validité convergente ; Fidélité test ; Humeur ; Emotion émotivité ; Plainte somatique ; Alexithymie ; Echelle d'évaluation ; Questionnaire ;

Mots-clés espagnols / Spanish Keywords

Hombre ; Adolescente ; Niño ; Personalidad ; Psicometría ; Validación prueba ; Validez convergent ; Fidelidad pruebra ; Humor ; Emoción emotividad ; Queja somática ; Alexitimia ; Escala evaluación ; Cuestionario ;

Mots-clés d'auteur / Author Keywords

Alexithymia ; Children ; Somatic complaints ; Mood states ;

Localisation / Location

INIST-CNRS, Cote INIST : 18816, 35400013520581.0110