Fiona Rachel Kubera

Bio: Fiona Rachel Kubera is an academic researcher from University of Kassel. The author has contributed to research in topics: Toronto Alexithymia Scale & Alexithymia. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 1 citations.

The Structure of the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20): A Meta-Analytic Confirmatory Factor Analysis.

Abstract: Alexithymia is defined as the inability of persons to describe their emotional states, to identify the feelings of others, and a utilitarian type of thinking. The most popular instrument to assess ...

Improving the measurement of alexithymia in autistic adults: a psychometric investigation of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and generation of a general alexithymia factor score using item response theory.

Abstract: Background Alexithymia, a personality trait characterized by difficulties interpreting emotional states, is commonly elevated in autistic adults, and a growing body of literature suggests that this trait underlies several cognitive and emotional differences previously attributed to autism. Although questionnaires such as the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) are frequently used to measure alexithymia in the autistic population, few studies have investigated the psychometric properties of these questionnaires in autistic adults, including whether differential item functioning (I-DIF) exists between autistic and general population adults. Methods This study is a revised version of a previous article that was retracted due to copyright concerns (Williams and Gotham in Mol Autism 12:1-40). We conducted an in-depth psychometric analysis of the TAS-20 in a large sample of 743 cognitively able autistic adults recruited from the Simons Foundation SPARK participant pool and 721 general population controls enrolled in a large international psychological study. The factor structure of the TAS-20 was examined using confirmatory factor analysis, and item response theory was used to generate a subset of the items that were strong indicators of a "general alexithymia" factor. Correlations between alexithymia and other clinical outcomes were used to assess the nomological validity of the new alexithymia score in the SPARK sample. Results The TAS-20 did not exhibit adequate model fit in either the autistic or general population samples. Empirically driven item reduction was undertaken, resulting in an 8-item general alexithymia factor score (GAFS-8, with "TAS" no longer referenced due to copyright) with sound psychometric properties and practically ignorable I-DIF between diagnostic groups. Correlational analyses indicated that GAFS-8 scores, as derived from the TAS-20, meaningfully predict autistic trait levels, repetitive behaviors, and depression symptoms, even after controlling for trait neuroticism. The GAFS-8 also presented no meaningful decrement in nomological validity over the full TAS-20 in autistic participants. Limitations Limitations of the current study include a sample of autistic adults that was majority female, later diagnosed, and well educated; clinical and control groups drawn from different studies with variable measures; only 16 of the TAS-20 items being administered to the non-autistic sample; and an inability to test several other important psychometric characteristics of the GAFS-8, including sensitivity to change and I-DIF across multiple administrations. Conclusions These results indicate the potential of the GAFS-8 to robustly measure alexithymia in both autistic and non-autistic adults. A free online score calculator has been created to facilitate the use of norm-referenced GAFS-8 latent trait scores in research applications (available at https://asdmeasures.shinyapps.io/alexithymia ).

Assessing Alexithymia across Asian and Western Cultures: Psychometric Properties of the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 in Singaporean and Australian Samples

Abstract: Abstract Alexithymia refers to difficulties identifying feelings (DIF), describing feelings (DDF), and externally orientated thinking (EOT). Originally conceptualized by American psychiatrists, some researchers have since questioned the validity and application of this construct in Asian cultures. However, to date, there is little empirical work formally assessing the invariance of alexithymia across Asian and Western cultures. The present study aimed to help address this gap, by examining the psychometric properties and measurement invariance of two alexithymia measures, the Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire (PAQ) and Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), across samples from Singapore (n = 434) or Australia (n = 489). The same theoretically congruent factor structure was supported across both samples; this structure was fully invariant across samples for the PAQ, and partially invariant for the TAS-20. Both measures had good internal consistency and concurrent validity across samples, except the TAS-20 EOT subscale which had low internal consistency and factor loadings in both samples. The Singaporean sample reported higher DIF and DDF for positive emotions than the Australian sample. Overall, our results support the cross-cultural validity and application of the alexithymia construct. The PAQ and TAS-20 both appear to have good utility in this respect, though the PAQ may provide a more detailed facet-level profile.

Meta-Analytic Structural Equation Modeling With Fallible Measurements

Abstract: Abstract. Meta-analytic structural equation modeling (MASEM) combines the strengths of meta-analysis with the flexibility of path models to address multivariate research questions using summary statistics. Because many research questions refer to latent constructs, measurement error can distort effect estimates in MASEMs if the unreliability of study variables is not properly acknowledged. Therefore, a comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation evaluated the impact of measurement error on MASEM results for different mediation models. These analyses showed that point estimates in MASEM were distorted by up to a third of the true effect, while confidence intervals exhibited undercoverage that were less than 10% in some situations. However, the use of adjustments for attenuation facilitated recovering largely undistorted point and interval estimates in MASEMs. These findings emphasize that MASEMs with fallible measurements can often yield highly distorted results. We encourage applied researchers to regularly adopt adjustment methods that account for attenuation in MASEMs.

A meta-analysis of a comprehensive m-health technology acceptance

Abstract: Purpose The evolution of e-health technologies presents promising alternatives for health-care excellence. Despite the benefits arising from mobile e-health (m-health) and wearables technologies, the literature stands many contradictories signs regarding how users accept and engage in using these technologies. This study aims to synthesize the estimations about m-health user acceptance technologies. Design/methodology/approach A meta-analytic structural equation modeling was carried out using the 778 relationships estimated by 100 previous research. The estimations follow the relations and constructs proposed in the UTAUT2 technological acceptance model. Findings The results indicate the performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence and habit constructs are most important for predicting the behavioral intention of use of m-health technologies. The Latin American users of e-health technologies are still underestimated in the literature. Originality/value The study presents a guide to understanding the acceptance process of m-health technologies and delivers a general orientation for developing new m-health devices considering their acceptance by users.