An Examination of the Topology and Measurement of the Alexithymia Construct Using Network Analysis

There is some ongoing controversy surrounding the definition and measurement of the alexithymia construct. Whereas most researchers describe 4 components comprising the construct (difficulty identifying feelings, difficulty describing feelings, restricted fantasizing, and externally oriented thinking), some include a 5th component, which is defined as “reduced experiencing of emotional feelings.” This study examined the topology and measurement of alexithymia using the method of network analysis with data from a heterogeneous multilanguage sample (N = 1,696) that had completed the Bermond–Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ; Vorst &; Bermond, 2001 Vorst, H. C. M., &; Bermond, B. (2001). Validity and reliability of the Bermond–Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire. Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 413–434. doi:10.1016/S0191-8869(00)00033-7Crossref], Web of Science ®] , Google Scholar]). The BVAQ includes an Emotionalizing subscale for assessing the purported 5th component; we compared the network analyses conducted both with and without the Emotionalizing items. The results revealed strong associations between Emotionalizing and Analyzing (externally oriented thinking) items, but Emotionalizing items had almost as many negative as positive connections with items assessing the other components of the construct. A comparison of communities identified by modularity analyses of the 2 networks failed to support emotionalizing as a distinct component of the construct. In addition, network metrics revealed that Fantasizing items were particularly weak within both networks, suggesting that reduced fantasizing might be a peripheral component of the alexithymia construct. Implications for the measurement and treatment of alexithymia are discussed.