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Comparing the Psychometric Properties of the Self- and Parent-Report Versions of Autism-Spectrum Quotient-Adult in Hong Kong (AQ-Adult-HK)

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Abstract

The Autism-Spectrum Quotient-Adult (AQ-Adult) is a screening tool for adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The present study examined the psychometric properties of the Chinese self- and parent-report versions of the AQ-Adult in Hong Kong (AQ-Adult-HK). Participants included adults with ASD (n = 27) and community controls (n = 345). Parents of a subset of adults with ASD (n = 21) and controls (n = 87) also participated as informants. The parent-report version showed significantly stronger psychometric properties, including a larger area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and higher sensitivity/specificity, than those of the self-report version. The stronger psychometric properties of the former were related to its significantly higher ratings of ASD symptoms in the ASD adults.

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Acknowledgments

This Project was supported by the Department of Psychology from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. We are extremely grateful to Dr. Rachel Poon, Ms. Michelle Liu, Mr. Daniel Chan, Ms. Veronica Wai and especially our participants who made this project possible.

Funding

This study did not receive any financial support.

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Author notes

  1. Vitti W. K. Poon and Dorothy S. T. Shu share co-first authorship.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 3rd Floor, Sino Building, Shatin, Hong Kong, China

    Vitti W. K. Poon, Dorothy S. T. Shu & Patrick W. L. Leung

  2. The Jockey Club iREACH Social Competence Development and Employment Support Center, New Life Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, Room 913-914, 9/F, Youth Square, 238 Chai Wan Road, Chai Wan, Hong Kong, China

    Raymond W. S. Chan & Cecilia N. W. Leung

Authors
  1. Vitti W. K. Poon
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  2. Dorothy S. T. Shu
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  3. Raymond W. S. Chan
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  4. Cecilia N. W. Leung
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  5. Patrick W. L. Leung
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Contributions

PL and RC conceived, designed and supervised this study. VP and DS participated in its design and planning, and were responsible for data collection, data analysis and initial manuscript preparation. CL finalized data analysis and performed manuscript revision. PL finalized the manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patrick W. L. Leung.

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All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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All procedures performed were in compliance with the Ethical Standards of the Institutional and/or National Research Committees and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Informed written consent was obtained from all individual participants involved in this study.

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Poon, V.W.K., Shu, D.S.T., Chan, R.W.S. et al. Comparing the Psychometric Properties of the Self- and Parent-Report Versions of Autism-Spectrum Quotient-Adult in Hong Kong (AQ-Adult-HK). J Autism Dev Disord 50, 524–528 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04276-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04276-7

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