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Dimensional analysis of the MMPI Alexithymia scale
R M Bagby1, J D Parker, G J Taylor
1Department of Psychology, Clarke Institute of Psychiatry (METFORS), Toronto, Ontario.
Journal of Clinical Psychology
|March 1, 1991
Summary
The MMPI Alexithymia scale (MMPI-A) shows an unstable factor structure, with findings lacking theoretical relevance to alexithymia. This impacts its use in understanding physical illness development.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Personality Science
Background:
- Alexithymia is increasingly recognized for its role in physical illness pathogenesis.
- Existing research on alexithymia often overlooks the psychometric properties of measurement scales.
- The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) Alexithymia scale (MMPI-A) is a key measure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying dimensions of the MMPI-A.
- To assess the factor structure stability of the MMPI-A.
- To determine the psychometric validity of the MMPI-A for alexithymia research.
Main Methods:
- Administered the MMPI-A to 552 undergraduates.
- Randomly split the data into two independent samples.
- Conducted factor analysis on both samples to examine the scale's structure.
Main Results:
- Factor analysis consistently yielded a three-factor solution for both samples.
- The identified factors showed limited theoretical relevance to the alexithymia construct.
- Moderate congruence between the factor structures of the two samples indicated instability.
Conclusions:
- The MMPI-A's factor structure is unstable and lacks theoretical relevance to alexithymia.
- The findings raise concerns about the psychometric properties and utility of the MMPI-A.
- Further research is needed to develop and validate reliable measures of alexithymia.