Validation of the abridged version of the autism-spectrum quotient (AQ-28) in the Arabic-speaking adult general population

Abstract

Background: The field of autism research in adults has not yet emerged in Arab countries, which is in part due to the lack of valid, reliable autism measures. The objectives of this study were to assess the psychometric properties of the abridged version of the autism-spectrum quotient (AQ-28) in a sample of non-clinical Arabic-speaking adults. Methods: A cross-sectional web-based study was carried-out from February to April 2024. Adults aged over 18 years from the general population of Lebanon ( N = 1076, mean age of 27.90 ± 11.81 years, 63.8% females) were recruited using the snowball sampling technique. The AQ-28 was administered to participants, along with the relationship Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and the Jong-Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Results: The original five-factor model of the AQ-28 had good fit to the data: RMSEA = 0.061 (90% CI: 0.059–0.064), SRMR = 0.060, CFI = 0.848, TLI = 0.831, and an excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.91). Measurement invariance has been established across sex. Mean sum scores observed in male participants were significantly higher than those displayed by females. Autistic traits as measured by the Arabic AQ-28 correlated positively with loneliness ( r = 0.16; p < 0.001), depression ( r = 0.17; p < 0.001) and anxiety ( r = 0.15; p < 0.001). Conclusion: Findings suggest that Arabic-language version of the AQ-28 provided by this study is valid, reliable, and suitable for use among Arabic-speaking adults to measure core trait dimensions of autism and screen for autism spectrum disorder. It is our hope that the new scale will generate interest among researchers in the yet unexplored field of autism research in Arab countries.