Toronto Alexithymia Scale – TAS-26
A 26-item self-report instrument designed to measure alexithymia, characterized by difficulties identifying and describing emotions, restricted imagination, and externally oriented thinking.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Toronto Alexithymia Scale – TAS-26 was developed by Graeme J. Taylor, Dale Ryan, and R. Michael Bagby (1985). It is designed to measure Alexithymia. The scale is intended for use with Adults and clinical populations.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 26 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Difficulty to Identify and to Distinguish between Feelings and Bodily Sensations, Reduced Daydreaming, Externally Oriented Thinking, Difficulty Describing Feelings.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Difficulty to Identify and to Distinguish between Feelings and Bodily Sensations | 1,4,10,14,17,20,25,26 | 8 |
| Reduced Daydreaming | 2,5,15,16,18 | 5 |
| Externally Oriented Thinking | 7,9,11,13,19,21,24 | 7 |
| Difficulty Describing Feelings | 3,6,8,12,22,23 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 11 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 26 to 130. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Alexithymia: 26 – 60
- Moderate Alexithymia: 61 – 73
- High Alexithymia: 74 – 130
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha typically ranges from 0.70 to 0.85 across subscales.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.