Validity of the French form of the somatosensory amplification scale in a non-clinical sample
The SomatoSensory Amplification Scale (SSAS) is a 10-item self-report instrument designed to assess the tendency to detect somatic and visceral sensations and experience them as unusually intense, toxic and alarming. This study examines the psychometric proper ties of a French version of the SSAS in a non clinical population and, more specifically, explores its construct, convergent and discrimi nant validities. The SSAS was completed by 375 university students, together with measures of somatization propensity (SCL-90-R somatiza tion subscale) and trait anxiety (STAI Y form). The results of principal component and confir matory factor analyses suggest that the French version of the SSAS evaluates essentially a sin gle, robust factor (Somatosensory amplifica tion) and two kinds of somatic sensitivity (Exteroceptive sensitivity and Interoceptive sensitivity). Somatosensory amplification cor related with somatization tendency and anxiety propensity. These results encourage further investigations in French of the determinants and consequences of somatosensory amplifica tion, and its use as a therapeutic strategy.
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