Evaluation of the factor structure of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient

Purpose The Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) is a widely used tool to quantify autistic traits in the general population. This study aims to report the distribution, group differences and factor structure of autistic traits in Indian general population. The work also assesses the criterion validity of AQ across three patient group samples – autism spectrum disorder (ASD), obsessive-compulsive disorder and social anxiety disorder. Design/methodology/approach In this study, psychometric properties of the adapted AQ were assessed among 450 neurotypical university students matched for age. Confirmatory factor analysis was done to see if the adapted AQ fits the original factor structure. Test–retest, internal consistency reliability and criterion validity were found out. Group differences (gender and field of study) in AQ were also assessed. Findings Autistic traits were found to be continuously distributed in the population, and patterns of group differences were consistent with previous studies. The adapted AQ had five factors resembling the original factor structure with a good fit, and 38 items instead of the original 50 items. Acceptable reliability coefficients were demonstrated along with criterion validity across clinical groups. Originality/value This work is the first to present the pattern of distribution and factor structure of autistic traits among neurotypical adults from Eastern India, a culturally different population, as well as a reliable and valid tool to assess autistic traits in Bengali, a language with 300 million speakers. The findings add to the growing literature on AQ measurement and the concept of autism as a quantitative trait, examined outside of the western samples.

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Construction and psychometric evaluation of a short form of the Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire

Psihologija ◽

10.2298/psi170619014s ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 51 (2) ◽

pp. 243-258

Author(s):

Irena Stojkovic ◽

Bojan Ducic ◽

Svetlana Kaljaca ◽

Mirjana Djordjevic

Keyword(s):

Personality Traits ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Social Relations ◽

Discriminant Validity ◽

Factor Model ◽

Short Form ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Broad Autism Phenotype ◽

Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽

Autism Phenotype

Broad Autism Phenotype (BAP) represents a group of personality traits expressed in limitations in social relations and pragmatic speech dimension, and rigid behavior. The Broad Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAPQ) measures personality traits which are crucial in defining the BAP. In the present research, three studies were conducted with the general aim to create a short form of the BAPQ. Study 1 was carried out to determine the factor structure of the BAPQ in a sample of 501 students and to select items for the short form. Obtained components: Aloofness, Rigidity, and Pragmatics, corresponding to the structure of the instrument proposed by authors, accounted for 26.61% of variance. Study 2 was conducted to examine factor structure of the BAPQ short form (BAPQ-SF), in a sample of 298 students. This solution explained 45.76% of the total variance. The aim of Study 3 was to determine psychometric characteristics of the BAPQ-SF in a sample of students (N = 294). Three-factor model of the BAPQ-SF was confirmed. Correlations of the BAPQ-SF with the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Delta 10 suggest convergent and discriminant validity of the BAPQ-SF.

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Review 2: Internal reliability, homogeneity, and factor structure of the ten-item Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ-10) with two additional response categories

10.1017/exp.2020.70.pr2 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

George Farmer

Keyword(s):

Factor Structure ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽

Internal Reliability

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Validation of the Dutch Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q-NL)

10.31234/osf.io/f8md9 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Wikke van der Putten ◽

Joost Agelink van Rentergem ◽

Tulsi Radhoe ◽

Carolien Torenvliet ◽

Annabeth Groenman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Measurement Invariance ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Internal Consistency ◽

Convergent Validity ◽

Autistic Traits ◽

Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Self Report ◽

Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽

Dutch Translation

Camouflaging behavior is defined as using strategies to hide autistic characteristics. In the present study, we investigate the psychometric properties of a self-report questionnaire measuring camouflaging behavior: the Dutch translation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q-NL). In total, 674 individuals (of which 356 autistic) aged 30 to 92, filled out the CAT-Q-NL and the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ). In addition, we administered the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS-2) in a subsample of 90 autistic adults. We executed preregistered analyses (AsPredicted #37800) to investigate the factor structure, measurement invariance, internal consistency and group differences. Convergent validity was assessed by comparing the CAT-Q-NL to the discrepancy between the AQ and ADOS-2. We found an acceptable fit for the original three-factor structure and sufficient to good internal consistency for total and factor scores. However, we did not find measurement invariance between autistic and non-autistic individuals. Correlations between CAT-Q-NL-scores and the discrepancy between AQ and ADOS-2 varied between low to mediocre (r = .04 to .28). Therefore, more research is needed into the convergent validity of the CAT-Q-NL. We conclude that the CAT-Q-NL can be used to measure camouflaging behavior within and between autistic individuals, but not between autistic and non-autistic individuals.

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Psychometric Properties and Factor Structure of the Malay Autism Spectrum Quotient: Children’s Version

Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences ◽

10.21315/mjms2021.28.6.11 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 28 (6) ◽

pp. 108-120

Author(s):

Shazia Iqbal Hashmi ◽

Getrude Cosmas Ah Gang ◽

Agnes Sombuling ◽

Nurul Hudani Md Nawi ◽

Puteri Hayati Megat Ahmad

Keyword(s):

Psychometric Properties ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Autism Spectrum Quotient

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Factor Structure, Reliability and Criterion Validity of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ): A Study in Dutch Population and Patient Groups

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders ◽

10.1007/s10803-008-0538-x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (8) ◽

pp. 1555-1566 ◽

Cited By ~ 330

Author(s):

Rosa A. Hoekstra ◽

Meike Bartels ◽

Danielle C. Cath ◽

Dorret I. Boomsma

Keyword(s):

Factor Structure ◽

Criterion Validity ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽

Dutch Population ◽

Structure Reliability ◽

Patient Groups

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Exploring sex differences in autistic traits: A factor analytic study of adults with autism

Autism ◽

10.1177/1362361316667283 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (6) ◽

pp. 760-768 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Rachel Grove ◽

Rosa A Hoekstra ◽

Marlies Wierda ◽

Sander Begeer

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Factor Structure ◽

Short Form ◽

Autistic Traits ◽

Autism Spectrum ◽

Autism Spectrum Conditions ◽

Autism Spectrum Quotient ◽

Men And Women ◽

Males And Females ◽

Autism Phenotype

Research has highlighted potential differences in the phenotypic and clinical presentation of autism spectrum conditions across sex. Furthermore, the measures utilised to evaluate autism spectrum conditions may be biased towards the male autism phenotype. It is important to determine whether these instruments measure the autism phenotype consistently in autistic men and women. This study evaluated the factor structure of the Autism Spectrum Quotient Short Form in a large sample of autistic adults. It also systematically explored specific sex differences at the item level, to determine whether the scale assesses the autism phenotype equivalently across males and females. Factor analyses were conducted among 265 males and 285 females. A two-factor structure consisting of a social behaviour and numbers and patterns factor was consistent across groups, indicating that the latent autism phenotype is similar among both autistic men and women. Subtle differences were observed on two social behaviour item thresholds of the Autism Spectrum Quotient Short Form, with women reporting scores more in line with the scores expected in autism on these items than men. However, these differences were not substantial. This study showed that the Autism Spectrum Quotient Short Form detects autistic traits equivalently in males and females and is not biased towards the male autism phenotype.

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