Overview
Alexithymia is a condition characterized by a low degree of emotional self-awareness, including difficulty identifying and describing one’s own feelings, difficulty recognising emotional experiences from internal bodily signals, and a thinking style that focuses more on the external reality and less on emotion (Bagby et al., 2020; Nemiah et al., 1976; Taylor et al., 1991). The Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children– Parent (AQC-P) is a modified version of the Alexithymia Questionnaire for Children (Rieffe et al., 2006). The ACQ-P retains the same wording used by Rieffe and colleagues’ (2006) with an adapted stem e.g., “I am able" became, “my child is able" The ACQ-P also includes the same three subscales: Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF), Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF) and Externally-Oriented Thinking (EOT).Scoring & Interpretation
Parents are asked to score each item on a three-point response scale (1 = not true; 2 = a bit true; 3 = true). The measure has three subscales: Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF), Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF). Externally-orientated Thinking (EOT). Items 4, 5, 10, 18, 19 are reverse scored. Higher scores indicating greater degree of alexithymic traits. Note: In the Rieffe et al., (2006) paper on the development of the ACQ scoring is stated as 0=not true, 1 = a bit true; 2 = true.Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency
Acceptable ω reliability values were found for the AQC-P total scores (ω = .87) and the DIF (ω = .89), DDF (ω = .70), and EOT (ω = .75) subscales.
Test-Retest Reliability
Factor Structure
Confirmatory factor analyses of the ACQ-P found acceptable model fit for the three-factor model. Analyses for a one-factor model found poor model fit.
Validity
Convergent validity: Significant positive correlations were found between the AQC-P and the ACQ total scores and subscale scores. Significant correlations were found between the AQC-P and measures of inattention-hyperactivity, emotion symptoms, conduct problems and peer problems as measured by the Stengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) and depression (DSRS: Birleson, 1981).
Divergent validity: Significant negative correlations were found between the ACQ-P and prosocial behaviour (as measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (Goodman, 1997) and empathy (as measured by the EQ-C: Auyeung et al., 2009).
Measurement Invariance
Partial measurement invariance for gender (up to the threshold, loading and intercept invariance level).