AN INVESTIGATION OF THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE 26-ITEM TORONTO-ALEXITHYMIA SCALE IN A JAPANESE CULTURE

We investigated the psychometric properties of the Japanese version of the 26-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale in a Japanese culture, testing a sample of 1,008. The validity and reliability of this Japanese versi on were suggested by significant correlations with the Beth Israel Hos pital Psychosomatic Questionnaire and estimates to test-retest and int ernal consistency. These results suggest that this version may be suit able for Japanese populations. Although alexithymia scores were correl ated negatively with increasing age, the result, based on the large sa mple, seems to be of minimal significance.