Posttraumatic stress symptoms in Australian parents of autistic children: Factor structure of the International Trauma Questionnaire (ITQ) and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (PCL-5).

OBJECTIVE

Research indicates that parents of autistic children may have a higher risk of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than parents of neurotypical children. This study was to determine the optimal factor structure of two trauma screening assessments: the PTSD Checklist for and the International Trauma Questionnaire, within this parent population.

METHOD

Confirmatory factor analysis examined and compared one novel model and 14 previously identified and trauma symptom models among Australian parents of autistic children ( = 563).

RESULTS

Three PTSD models (anhedonia, hybrid, and intrusion/distress) provided a marginal fit, with the novel intrusion/distress model offering a superior fit. None of the five models tested achieved a good overall fit. For , a three-factor model best fit the latent structure of PTSD symptoms. For complex PTSD (CPTSD), a two-factor second-order model and a six-factor first-order model provided a superior fit over five alternative CPTSD models.

CONCLUSIONS

Results strongly support the internal reliability and construct validity of the PTSD and CPTSD models in Australian parents of autistic children, as measured by the International Trauma Questionnaire. The models outperformed the best models, highlighting their superiority for this population. While more complex models showed better fit than simpler ones, they still did not achieve a good overall fit. Notably, the results were largely consistent when assessing individuals meeting Criterion A for PTSD, specifically in relation to parenting-related traumatic experiences. The International Trauma Questionnaire is a more reliable and suitable tool for assessing PTSD and CPTSD in Australian parents of autistic children. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).