Psychometric properties of Persian abridged version of Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ-Short)

Background: The first important step in the study of psychological constructs is using precise measurement instruments. Historically, development of psychological tests has had a significant contribution to clarifying the nature of psychological constructs by establishing strong foundations for research, such as group comparisons, along with external criteria and follow up over time. Recent evidence suggests that autism spectrum is widespread among the general population. There is a continuum of severe social, behavioral and communication deficits related to autism, so, both relatives of the autistic person and the general population are showing a normal distribution of autistic spectrum attributes below the clinical threshold. In the general population, the etiology of the autistic spectrum attributes is similar to the etiology of autism spectrum disorder. Understanding autism dimensions recently raised in DSM-5 has led to more attention to studies on autism spectrum attributes in families, twins, brother and sister of the autistic person and the general population. Research has dimensionally moved towards the development of measurement tools with the introduction of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one of the important measures of the Autism Spectrum Disorder is the AQ-50 constructed by Baron Cohen. The literature showed that many studies have cited AQ-50 having the exact psychometric indices of this questionnaire. Huckestra et al developed the AQ-28 derived from the AQ-50with the purpose of shortening the AQ-50, and easy use of it in research. Considering the fact that the short form of autistic spectrum coefficient questionnaire is one of the most widely used questionnaires for measurement and use in research, and, it has been applied in different countries, it is important to examine it in the context of Iran where it has not been investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the short form of the Autism spectrum coefficient questionnaire (AQ-28) in the Iranian population. The current study investigated psychometric properties of Persian abridged version of Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ-Short). Methods: The study population consisted of 360 college students (male and female), aged 18 to 35 years and were selected by multistage random sampling method and responded on Persian abridged version of Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ-Short), DASS 21 questionnaires. for data analysis, Pearson correlation, Cronbach alpha, confirmatory factor analyses (EFAs) was used. Results: A five-factor model consisting of Social, Academic, performance, family and Appearance factors was found through confirmatory factor analyses (EFAs). Internal consistency was good for the Persian version of TQ-R (;α .57). Furthermore, positive and significant (.40< r < .54) between teasing, symptoms of depression and anxiety was found (p<0/01). Conclusion: The findings from the current study indicated that Persian Translation of Teasing Questionnaire-Revised (TQ-R) have appropriate psychometrical properties. In addition, these results support this notion that teasing experience are linked to depressive anxious symptomatology.

کلیدواژه ها:

Autism spectrum Quotient ، Validity ، Reliability ، Factor analysis