Exploring Factor Validity of 20-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) in Albanian Clinical and Nonclinical Samples

This study aims to examine the factor structure and validity of Albanian TAS-20 (Toronto Alexithymia Scale) using a sample comprised 342 students 196 patients from psychiatric clinic. Based on literature review studies confirmatory analysis (CFA), three types models were tested: first-order with method factors covariances, second-order model nested covariances. The findings suggest that three-factor correlated was best most parsimonious solution for clinical sample, exhibiting adequate levels performance based goodness fit criteria. However, regarding student covariances demonstrated superior when compared other tested models. Although total scale difficulty identifying feelings (DIF) describing (DDF) scores provided sound internal consistency, externally oriented thinking (EOT) subscale did not. Nonetheless, as CFA suggests plausibility negatively keyed items in factors, further interpretation this is suggested. concludes language appropriate research purposes, needed its application practice.