The multimethod assessment of alexithymia and its relations with internalizing and externalizing problems among institutionalized adolescents.

Alexithymia is a well-known risk factor for internalizing and externalizing problems in adolescence and it is more common in people with a history of adverse experiences in childhood (Schimmenti & Caretti, 2018), such as institutionalized adolescents. Therefore, the prevention of its negative effects may be clinically relevant, but it is influenced by the type of method used, which can lead to different results (Balottin et al., 2014; Montebarocci & Surcinelli, 2018). The aim of this study was to assess the alexithymia with a multi-method approach, exploring its relations with internalizing-externalizing problems, in 26 institutionalized adolescents (aged 12-18, M=16, SD= 1.6; 54% boys), recruited for a larger research through Social Services in Liguria. Alexithymia was measured both through the Toronto Structured Interview for Alexithymia (TSIA) and the self-report Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), while the Child Behavior Checklist 6-18 (CBCL), compiled by the professional educator, was used to measure the internalizing and externalizing problems. Main results revealed different relations with internalizing or externalizing problems depending on the method used to evaluate alexithymia. Indeed, no correlations were found with the TSIA’s scales while, using the TAS-20, positive correlations were found between internalizing problems and both Difficulty Identifying Feelings (DIF, p =.04) and Difficulty Describing Feelings (DDF, p=.009), as well as between externalizing problems and Externally Oriented Thinking (EOT, p=.02). Further, total alexithymia and DDF, measured through the TSIA and the TAS-20, were significantly correlated (respectively p = .05 and p = .001), suggesting that the two methods may lead to similar results in these dimensions. In conclusion, the relations among alexithymia and internalizing or externalizing problems may be inflated using only the self-report TAS-20, thus a multi-method assessment of alexithymia would be advisable.