Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire Short Form (PAQ-S) in Arabic, English, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Ukrainian

Olga Malas; Giulia Colombini; Anastasiia Shyroka; Dayo Omotoso; Asiye-Şengül Avşar; Nada Mallah Boustani; Mirko Duradoni; Angel Blanch; Olga Malas; Giulia Colombini; Anastasiia Shyroka; Dayo Omotoso; Asiye-Şengül Avşar; Nada Mallah Boustani; Mirko Duradoni; Angel Blanch

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2025042

AIMS Public Health

2025, Volume 12, Issue 3: 835-856. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2025042

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Research article

Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire Short Form (PAQ-S) in Arabic, English, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Ukrainian

1.
Department of Psychology, Sociology and Social Work, University of Lleida, Avinguda de l'Estudi General, 4, 25001 Lleida, Spain
2.
Department of Education, Languages, Interculture, Literatures and Psychology, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi, 12, Building 26, 50135 Florence, Italy
3.
Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ukrainian Catholic University, Sventsitskogo 17, 79011 Lviv, Ukraine
4.
Department of Human Anatomy, Redeemer's University, Ede, Osun State, Nigeria
5.
Department of Measurement and Evaluation in Education, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan University, Campus Zihni Derin - Fener Mahallesi 53100 Rize, Türkiye
6.
Faculty of business and management, Saint Joseph University, PO BOX 17-5208 Mar Mikhael, 1104 2020 Beirut, Lebanon

Received: 07 May 2025 Revised: 01 July 2025 Accepted: 16 July 2025 Published: 13 August 2025

Alexithymia is a personality trait with significant clinical impact worldwide. It is a relevant transdiagnostic risk factor for a wide range of psychopathologies, including depression, anxiety, eating and substance use disorders, and other psychosomatic conditions. This underscores the importance of having validated instruments to measure alexithymia, particularly brief scales suitable for quick and practical applications. The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ-S) has shown promising results in this context. However, few cross-cultural studies have validated its use, which is the aim of the present study. To this end, a sample of 2535 university students was recruited (mean age = 20.59 years; SD = 2.04; 26.75% males and 73.25% females) from Spain (n = 388), Italy (n = 376), Lebanon (n = 487), Nigeria (n = 561), Türkiye (n = 410), and Ukraine (n = 313). The PAQ-S and the Type D Personality Scale (DS-14) – designed to assess Negative Affectivity (NA) and Social Inhibition (SI) – were administered. The Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Network Analysis (NwA) were applied. The confirmatory factor analysis yielded satisfactory results in all cases, with an adequate internal consistency. Metric invariance was obtained between genders and cultures. Additionally, several of the analysed countries presented strict invariance. Therefore, the data obtained in these countries can be compared and their results extrapolated between them. The NwA supports the data obtained through the CTT, as well as the independence of alexithymia, NA, and SI constructs. Hence, the scale proved to be useful for its intended aim and may be useful to monitor alexithymia in large-scale health campaigns.
- alexithymia,
- type D personality,
- PAQ-S,
- classical test theory,
- network analysis,
- psychometrics
Citation: Olga Malas, Giulia Colombini, Anastasiia Shyroka, Dayo Omotoso, Asiye-Şengül Avşar, Nada Mallah Boustani, Mirko Duradoni, Angel Blanch. Psychometric properties and measurement invariance of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire Short Form (PAQ-S) in Arabic, English, Italian, Spanish, Turkish, and Ukrainian[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2025, 12(3): 835-856. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2025042

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Abstract

Alexithymia is a personality trait with significant clinical impact worldwide. It is a relevant transdiagnostic risk factor for a wide range of psychopathologies, including depression, anxiety, eating and substance use disorders, and other psychosomatic conditions. This underscores the importance of having validated instruments to measure alexithymia, particularly brief scales suitable for quick and practical applications. The Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ-S) has shown promising results in this context. However, few cross-cultural studies have validated its use, which is the aim of the present study. To this end, a sample of 2535 university students was recruited (mean age = 20.59 years; SD = 2.04; 26.75% males and 73.25% females) from Spain (n = 388), Italy (n = 376), Lebanon (n = 487), Nigeria (n = 561), Türkiye (n = 410), and Ukraine (n = 313). The PAQ-S and the Type D Personality Scale (DS-14) – designed to assess Negative Affectivity (NA) and Social Inhibition (SI) – were administered. The Classical Test Theory (CTT) and Network Analysis (NwA) were applied. The confirmatory factor analysis yielded satisfactory results in all cases, with an adequate internal consistency. Metric invariance was obtained between genders and cultures. Additionally, several of the analysed countries presented strict invariance. Therefore, the data obtained in these countries can be compared and their results extrapolated between them. The NwA supports the data obtained through the CTT, as well as the independence of alexithymia, NA, and SI constructs. Hence, the scale proved to be useful for its intended aim and may be useful to monitor alexithymia in large-scale health campaigns.

Acknowledgments

The authors thank all the participants for taking part in the study.

Authors' contributions

Conceptualization, methodology and formal analysis, OM; Investigation and data curation, OM, ASA., NMB, GC, MD, AS and DO.; writing - original draft preparation, OM; writing - review and editing, ASA., NMB, GC, MD, DO, AS and AB; supervision, OM; All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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