Merenje ispoljavanja aleksitimije i autističnih odlika kod studenata: unutrašnja konzistentnost i konvergentna validnost skala

Abstract

Uvod: Aleksitimija kao subklinički fenomen i poremećaj iz spektra autizma dele pojedine karakteristike, a jedna od njih je upravo smanjena sposobnost razumevanja i identifikacije kako svojih, tako i tuđih emocija, kao i smanjena i kvalitativno izmenjena sposobnost komunikacije u vezi sa iskazivanjem ovih emocija kroz razgovor sa drugima. Cilj: Usled prepletenosto aleksitimije i autizma cilj našeg rada bio je da na populaciji studenata utvrdimo povezanost dve skale za procenu aleksitimije

– Torontske skale za procenu aleksitimije (TAS-20) i Pertskog upitnika za procenu aleksitimije (PAQ), kao i povezanost skala za procenu aleksitimije i autističnih odlika – crta autizma u oblasti socijalne komunikacije i stereotipnog ponašanja, izraženih kroz koeficijent autističnosti (AQ). Metode: Uzorak je činilo 159 studenata (131 ženskog i 28 muškog pola) starosti od

19 do 36 godina. Za procenu aleksitimije korišćeni su TAS-20 i PAQ, dok je za procenu autističnih odlika korišćen koeficijent autističnosti (AQ). Rezultati: Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju na visoku povezanost dva instrumenta

za procenu aleksitimije (rs = 0,80, p < 0,001), s tim da je Pertski upitnik za procenu aleksitimije imao bolju unutrašnju konzistentnost 0,96, u odnosu na 0,86 i

ukazivao na manji procenat osoba sa visokim nivoom aleksitimije (5,7% u odnosu na 12,6%). Između aleksitimije i autističnih odlika utvrđena je umerena pozi- tivna povezanost (AQ i PAQ: rs = 0,46, p < 0,001; AQ i TAS-20: rs = 0,51, p<0,001). Zaključak: Prema našim saznanjima, ovo je prvo istraživanje u kome je korišćen Pertski upitnik aleksitimije preveden na srpski jezik. Upitnik je pokazao odličnu unutrašnju konzistentnost, kao i konvergentnu validnost, izraženu kroz visoku korelaciju sa Toronto skalom za procenu aleksitimije. Dobijena korelacija između dve mere za procenu aleksitimije, kao i između skala za procenu

aleksitimije i autističnih odlika, u skladu je sa rezultatima prethodnih inostranih

istraživanja

ntroduction: Alexithymia, as a subclinical phenomenon, and a disorder within the autism spectrum share certain characteristics, one of which is a reduced ability to understand and identify one’s own and others’ emotions, as well as a reduced and qualitatively altered ability to communicate and express these emotions through conversation with others. Aim: Due to the interweaving of alexithymia and autism, the aim of our study was to determine, on the student population, the correlation of two alexithymia assessment scales, the Toronto Alexithymia Assessment Scale (TAS-20) and the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ), as well as the association between alexithymia and autistic features – autism in the area of social communication and stereotypic behavior, expressed through the autistic coefficient (AQ). Methods: The sample consisted of 159 students (131 female and 28 male) aged 19 to 36 years. The Toronto Alexithymia Assessment Scale (TAS-20) and the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) were used to assess alexithymia, while the Autism Quotient (AQ) was used to assess autistic features. Results: The results of the study indicate a high correlation between the two instruments for assessing alexithymia (rs = .80, p< .001), with the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire showing better internal consistency (α =.96, compared to α = .86) and indicating a lower percentage of individuals with high levels of alexithymia (5.7% compared to 12.6%). A moderate positive correlation was found between alexithymia and autistic traits (AQ and PAQ: rs= .46, p < .001; AQ and TAS-20: rs = .51, p < .001). Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first study in which the used Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire for alexithymia has been translated into the Serbian language. The questionnaire demonstrated excellent internal consistency, as well as convergent validity, expressed through a high correlation with the Toronto Alexithymia Scale. The obtained correlation between the two measures of alexithymia, as well as between alexithymia and AQ, is in line with the results of previous international studies.