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

IF 1.8 Q3 PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH

Journal of Public Health Research Pub Date : 2025-09-28 eCollection Date: 2025-07-01 DOI:10.1177/22799036251377610

Feten Fekih-Romdhane, Fouad Sakr, Amthal Alhuwailah, Leila Sarra Chaibi, Mai Helmy, Hanaa Ahmed Mohamed Shuwiekh, Nedjem Eddine Boudouda, Btissame Zarrouq, Abdallah Y Naser, Kamel Jebreen, Mohammed Lakhdar Roubi, Bassam Abdul Rasool Hassan, Nisma Merdad, Rizwana Amin, Inad Nawajah, Ali Haider Mohammed, Sinan Subhi Farhan, Omar Abdulwahid AlAni, Majda Cheour, Mariam Dabbous, Diana Malaeb, Sahar Obeid, Souheil Hallit

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引用次数: 0

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.

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在讲阿拉伯语的成人人群中，自闭症谱系商数（AQ-28）的简化版本的验证。

背景：成人自闭症研究领域尚未在阿拉伯国家出现，部分原因是缺乏有效、可靠的自闭症测量方法。本研究的目的是在非临床讲阿拉伯语的成年人样本中评估精简版自闭症谱系商（AQ-28）的心理测量特性。方法：于2024年2月至4月进行基于网络的横断面研究。采用滚雪球抽样法从黎巴嫩普通人群中招募年龄在18岁以上的成年人（N = 1076人，平均年龄27.90±11.81岁，其中女性占63.8%）。参与者在接受问卷调查的同时，还接受了人际关系问卷、患者健康问卷、广泛性焦虑障碍问卷和Jong-Gierveld孤独量表。结果：AQ-28原五因子模型与数据拟合良好，RMSEA = 0.061 (90% CI: 0.059 ~ 0.064), SRMR = 0.060, CFI = 0.848, TLI = 0.831，内部一致性良好（Cronbach’s α = 0.91）。性别间的测量不变性已经确立。男性受试者的平均和得分明显高于女性受试者。结论：本研究提供的阿拉伯语版iq -28量表有效、可靠，适用于阿拉伯语成人自闭症核心特征维度的测量和自闭症谱系障碍的筛查。我们希望新的量表将引起阿拉伯国家尚未开发的自闭症研究领域的研究人员的兴趣。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Public Health Research PUBLIC, ENVIRONMENTAL & OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH-

CiteScore

3.70

自引率

4.30%

发文量

116

审稿时长

10 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Public Health Research (JPHR) is an online Open Access, peer-reviewed journal in the field of public health science. The aim of the journal is to stimulate debate and dissemination of knowledge in the public health field in order to improve efficacy, effectiveness and efficiency of public health interventions to improve health outcomes of populations. This aim can only be achieved by adopting a global and multidisciplinary approach. The Journal of Public Health Research publishes contributions from both the “traditional'' disciplines of public health, including hygiene, epidemiology, health education, environmental health, occupational health, health policy, hospital management, health economics, law and ethics as well as from the area of new health care fields including social science, communication science, eHealth and mHealth philosophy, health technology assessment, genetics research implications, population-mental health, gender and disparity issues, global and migration-related themes. In support of this approach, JPHR strongly encourages the use of real multidisciplinary approaches and analyses in the manuscripts submitted to the journal. In addition to Original research, Systematic Review, Meta-analysis, Meta-synthesis and Perspectives and Debate articles, JPHR publishes newsworthy Brief Reports, Letters and Study Protocols related to public health and public health management activities.