Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Factor Structure of the Social Communication Questionnaire in Preschool Aged Autistic Children

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

The Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) is a common screening tool for autism spectrum disorder. Given its wide use, as well as recent changes to diagnostic criteria for autism, there is a need to evaluate whether the SCQ maps onto the social communication and interaction, and repetitive behaviour and restricted interests domains specified in the revised criteria in DSM-5.

Methods

Participants included 294 preschool aged autistic children. Confirmatory factor analysis was implemented to evaluate the factor structure of the SCQ.

Results

None of the models evaluated provided an adequate fit to the data. However, the best fitting model mapped onto the previous DSM-IV diagnostic criteria for autism.

Conclusions

The SCQ does not align with the new DSM-5 domains. More research is needed to evaluate the factor structure of the SCQ in different populations of autistic children in order to determine its current validity as a screening tool.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen, C. W., Silove, N., Williams, K., & Hutchins, P. (2007). Validity of the social communication questionnaire in assessing risk of autism in preschool children with developmental problems. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 37(7), 1272–1278. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0279-7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders DSM-IV-TR. 4th ed. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Publishing Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barnard-Brak, L., Brewer, A., Chesnut, S., Richman, D., & Schaeffer, A. M. (2016). The sensitivity and specificity of the social communication questionnaire for autism spectrum with respect to age. Autism Research, 9(8), 838–845. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1584.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1987). Comparative fit indices in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238–246. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.88.3.588.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berument, S. K., Rutter, M., Lord, C., Pickles, A., & Bailey, A. (1999). Autism screening questionnaire: Diagnostic validity. British Journal of Psychiatry, 175, 444–451. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.175.5.444.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, T. A. (2006). Confirmatory factor analysis for applied research. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Browne, M. W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternate ways of assessing model fit. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds), Testing structural equation models (pp. 136–162). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among children aged 8 years - autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 11 Sites, United States, 2010. MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 63, 1–21.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charman, T., Baird, G., Simonoff, E., Chandler, S., Davison-Jenkins, A., & Sharma, A., et al. (2016). Testing two screening instruments for autism spectrum disorder in UK community child health services. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 58, 369–375. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.12874.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chesnut, S. R., Wei, T., Barnard-Brak, L., & Richman, D. M. (2016). A meta-analysis of the social communication questionnaire: Screening for autism spectrum disorder. Autism, 21(8), 920–928. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361316660065.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Corsello, C., Hus, V., Pickles, A., Risi, S., Cook, Jr, E. H., & Leventhal, B. L., et al. (2007). Between a ROC and a hard place: Decision making and making decisions about using the SCQ. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry and Allied Disciplines, 48(9), 932–940. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2007.01762.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Costello, A. B., & Osborne, J. W. (2005). Best practices in exploratory factor analysis: four recommendations for getting the most from your analysis. Practical Assessment, Research and Evaluation, 10(7), 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eapen, V., Crncec, R., & Walter, A. (2013). Clinical outcomes of an early intervention program for preschool children with Autism Spectrum Disorder in a community group setting. BMC Pediatrics, 13, 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2431-13-3.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Glascoe, F. P. (2005). Screening for developmental and behavioral problems. Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews, 11(3), 173–179. https://doi.org/10.1002/mrdd.20068.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criterion for fit indices in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling, 6, 1–55. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705519909540118.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, L. C., David, A. B., Rusyniak, J., Landa, R., & Newschaffer, C. J. (2007). Performance of the Social Communication Questionnaire in children receiving preschool special education services. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 1(2), 126–138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2006.08.004.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., DiLavore, P. C., Risi, S., Gotham, K., & Bishop, S. L. (2012). Autism diagnostic observation schedule (ADOS-2). 2nd ed. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lord, C., Rutter, M., & Le Couteur, A. (1994). Autism diagnostic interview-revised: A revised version of a diagnostic interview for caregivers of individuals with possible pervasive developmental disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 24, 659–685. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02172145.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Magyar, C. I., Pandolfi, V., & Dill, C. A. (2012). An initial evaluation of the social communication questionnaire for the assessment of autism spectrum disorders in children with down syndrome. Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, 33(2), 134–145. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0b013e318240d3d9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Marvin, A. R., Marvin, D. J., Lipkin, P. H., & Law, J. K. (2017). Analysis of Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ) Screening for Children Less Than Age 4. Current Developmental Disorders Reports, 4(4), 137–144. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40474-017-0122-1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998–2012). Mplus User’s Guide. 7th ed. Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.

    Google Scholar 

  • Myers, S. M., & Johnson, C. P. (2007). American academy of pediatrics council on children with disabilities. Management of children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics, 120, 1162–1182.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paynter, J., Riley, E., Beamish, W., Davies, M., & Milford, T. (2013). The double ABCX model of family adaptation in families of a child with an autism spectrum disorder attending an Australian early intervention service. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 7, 1183–1195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2013.07.006.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Randall, M., Brignall, A., Sciberras, E., Ihsen, E., Efron, D., & Dissanayake, C., et al. (2016). Autism Spectrum Disorder: presentation and prevalence in a nationally representative Australian sample. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 50, 243–253. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867415595287.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, D. L., Casagrande, K., Barton, M., Chen, C. M., Dumont-Mathieu, T., & Fein, D. (2014). Validation of the modified checklist for autism in toddlers, revised with follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F). Pediatrics, 33, 37–45.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenberg, S. A., Moody, E. J., Lee, L.-C., DiGuiseppi, C., Windham, G. C., & Wiggins, L. D., et al. (2018). Influence of family demographic factors on social communication questionnaire scores. Autism Research, 11(5), 695–706. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.1935.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Rutter, M. L., Bailey, A., & Lord, C. (2003). Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ). Los Angeles, CA: Western Psychological Services.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiger, J. H., & Lind, J. M. (1980). Statistically based tests for the number of common factors. Iowa City, IA: Meeting of the Psychometric Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tucker, L. R., & Lewis, C. (1973). A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis. Psychometrika, 15, 149–162. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02291170.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vivanti, G., Hudry, K., Trembath, D., Barbaro, J., Richdale, A., & Dissanayake, C. (2013). Towards the DSM V criteria for autism: clinical, cultural and research implications. Australian Psychologist, 48(4), 258–261.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wei, T., Chesnut, S., Barnard-Brak, L., & Richman, D. (2014). Psychometric Analysis of the Social Communication Questionnaire Using an Item-Response Theory Framework: implications for the Use of the Lifetime and Current Forms. Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 37, 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10862-014-9468-4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiggins, L. D., Bakeman, R., Adamson, L. B., & Robins, D. L. (2007). The Utility of the Social Communication Questionnaire in Screening for Autism in Children Referred for Early Intervention. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 22, 33–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/10883576070220010401.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L. (1981). Language, social and cognitive impairments in autism and severe mental retardation. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 10, 31–44.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wing, L., & Gould, J. (1979). Severe impairments of social interaction and associated abnormalities in children: Epidemiology and classification. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 9(1), 11–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by the Department of Social Services. The first author was supported by the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC), established and supported under the Commonwealth Government’s Cooperative Research Centres programme. The authors would like to thank all staff at the Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres involved in this study. We also sincerely thank the children and families who participated in this research.

Authors’ contributions

RG: designed the study, completed all data analyses, and drafted the manuscript. JP: collaborated with the design of the study, provided data, and assisted with the drafting of the manuscript. AJ: collaborated with the design of the study, provided data, and assisted with the drafting of the manuscript. GV: collaborated with the design of the study, provided data, and assisted with the drafting of the manuscript. CD: collaborated with the design of the study, and assisted with the drafting of the manuscript. VE: designed the study and assisted with the drafting of the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Rachel Grove

  2. School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Rachel Grove

  3. School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia

    Jessica Paynter

  4. School of Occupational Therapy and Social Work, Faculty of Health Sciences, Perth, WA, Australia

    Annette Joosten

  5. Autism Association of Western Australia, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia

    Annette Joosten

  6. Olga Tennison Autism Research Centre, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Giacomo Vivanti & Cheryl Dissanayake

  7. AJ Drexel Autism Institute, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Giacomo Vivanti

  8. School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia

    Valsamma Eapen

Authors
  1. Rachel Grove
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jessica Paynter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Annette Joosten
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Giacomo Vivanti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Cheryl Dissanayake
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Valsamma Eapen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rachel Grove.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval to conduct this study was obtained via the University of New South Wales Human Research Ethics Committee prior to the study commencing, and appropriate ethical guidelines were followed. Informed consent was obtained from all parents before their child was enrolled in the study.

Additional information

Publisher’s note: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Grove, R., Paynter, J., Joosten, A. et al. Factor Structure of the Social Communication Questionnaire in Preschool Aged Autistic Children. J Child Fam Stud 28, 3385–3391 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01519-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01519-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation