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

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.