Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, UK; Research Department of Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, UK.
Research Department of Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, UK.
Compr Psychiatry. 2024 Nov;135:152525. doi: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2024.152525. Epub 2024 Aug 22.
Camouflaging of autistic traits involves hiding or compensating for autistic characteristics, often due to stigma or a desire to fit in with others. This behaviour has been associated with mental health issues in autistic individuals. The 2 5-item Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) is the most commonly used self-report measure of camouflaging. In this study, a 9-item short form version was developed for use in clinical and research settings.
To construct and psychometrically validate a brief self-report measure of camouflaging.
The Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire - Short Form (CATQ-SF) was developed and its factor structure and psychometric properties were evaluated in two studies. Study 1 used a large, online sample of autistic and non-autistic adults (N = 832) to evaluate the factor structure, psychometric properties, and measurement invariance of the CATQ-SF. Study 2 used an independent sample of autistic and non-autistic adults (N = 80) to test Study 1's findings.
In Study 1, evidence for a three-factor structure was observed, with good internal consistency (combined autistic & non-autistic α = 0.84). In addition, the instrument demonstrated measurement invariance, and reliably predicted higher levels of autistic traits. In Study 2, the 3-factor structure was replicated, and good internal consistency was again observed (combined autistic and non-autistic α = 0.89). In both studies, psychometric properties were of similar or higher validity compared to the full-form CAT-Q.
The CATQ-SF can be used by clinicians and researchers to measure camouflaging in autistic and non-autistic adults quickly and reliably.
自闭症特质的掩饰是指隐藏或补偿自闭症特征，通常是由于耻辱感或融入他人的愿望。这种行为与自闭症个体的心理健康问题有关。25 项自闭症特质掩饰问卷（CAT-Q）是最常用的自闭症个体掩饰行为的自我报告测量工具。本研究开发了一种 9 项简短形式的版本，用于临床和研究环境。
构建和心理测量验证一种简短的自闭症特质掩饰自我报告测量工具。
开发了自闭症特质掩饰问卷简短形式（CATQ-SF），并在两项研究中评估其因子结构和心理测量特性。研究 1 使用一个大型在线自闭症和非自闭症成年人样本（N=832）评估 CATQ-SF 的因子结构、心理测量特性和测量不变性。研究 2 使用一个独立的自闭症和非自闭症成年人样本（N=80）来检验研究 1 的发现。
在研究 1 中，观察到了三因子结构的证据，具有良好的内部一致性（自闭症和非自闭症综合α=0.84）。此外，该工具表现出测量不变性，并且可靠地预测了更高水平的自闭症特征。在研究 2 中，三因子结构得到了复制，并且再次观察到了良好的内部一致性（自闭症和非自闭症综合α=0.89）。在两项研究中，心理测量特性的有效性均与完整形式的 CAT-Q 相似或更高。
CATQ-SF 可由临床医生和研究人员用于快速、可靠地测量自闭症和非自闭症成年人的掩饰行为。
