Psychometric Validation of a Parent-Reported Measure of Childhood Alexithymia

Abstract. Alexithymia can be defined as difficulties in describing one’s emotions and is of interest within clinical developmental psychology a potential mediating exacerbating factor across multiple forms psychopathology. Measuring alexithymia via self-reports challenging, those with heightened may have recognizing their traits due to impaired metacognitive skills. Thus, there would considerable benefits the availability psychometrically validated parent-reported measure that circumvent issue self-reports. We, therefore, examined psychometric properties new measure, Questionnaire for Children – Parent (AQC-P) community sample 257 child-parent dyads. Furthermore, we level agreement between parent-rated AQC-P its self-rated counterpart, (AQC). Confirmatory analysis found an oblique three-factor structure provided best model both AQC, this showing measurement invariance child gender. All subscales had omega internal consistency values > .70, supporting reliability. Cross-informant was supported by significant correlations AQC scores. Results support use children.