TITLE:
Factor Structure of the BVAQ in Mexican Married Adults
AUTHORS:
José Moral-de la Rubia
KEYWORDS:
Alexithymia, Emotion, Psychometrics, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, Item Response Theory
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Statistics,
Vol.16 No.4,
August
26,
2026
ABSTRACT: The Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire (BVAQ) is an important instrument for assessing alexithymia, offering broader content coverage than the widely used Toronto Alexithymia Scale; however, it has not been validated in Mexico. The objectives of this study were to translate the questionnaire from Dutch into Spanish, test its hierarchical factor structure comprising five first-order factors and two second-order factors, and estimate the reliability and convergent validity of its factors. Alternative models included five correlated factors and a bifactor model. A non-probability quota sample of 570 participants was collected in two phases: one from August to November 2018 (n = 365) and another from January to May 2026 (n = 205). The sample consisted of married men and women residing in Monterrey and its metropolitan area. The hierarchical model with 40 items did not show adequate fit, nor did the alternative models. Using Item Response Theory through five unidimensional models and two bifactor models, items were selected, and all reverse-keyed items were eliminated. The hierarchical model with 20 direct-keyed items and the five-factor correlated model showed good and equivalent fit, both outperforming the bifactor model. It is concluded that the correlated-factors model represents a better option than the hierarchical model because of the adequate convergent validity, reliability, and discriminant validity of its factors, whereas the second-order Affective factor showed weak convergent validity and questionable reliability.