Validation of the Romanian Version of Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Empathy Quotient (EQ) in the General Population.

Introduction: The diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be difficult to achieve, especially since the diagnostic criteria have changed in the last decade. This challenge is even greater for Romanian clinicians, as there are currently no screening tools validated for diagnosing ASD in adults within the Romanian population.

Purpose: This study aims to validate two screening instruments used to identify autistic traits in the Romanian general population: the Autism Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and the Empathy Quotient (EQ).

Methods: Data was collected by administering the Romanian version of the scales to a sample of 916 Romanian native speakers from the non-clinical population. 108 individuals were re-tested after 2 years. The scales were validated by determining their reliability with respect to the stability of the results and evaluating their construct and structural validity in correlation with the following instruments: QCAE (Questionnaire of Cognitive and Affective Empathy), PAQ (Perth Alexithymia Questionnaire) and BVAQ (Bermond-Vorst Alexithymia Questionnaire).

Results: Our data revealed that, regarding reliability, the Romanian version of AQ presents slightly lower internal consistency compared to the original validation study. Concerning structural validity, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed suboptimal fit indices for the original 5-factor structure. Based on a subsequent exploratory factor analysis (EFA), a 2-factor solution returned improved fit indices.

Conclusion: Despite employing more items to measure the constructs than needed, this study confirmed that both instruments present a valuable resource for clinicians working with neurodivergent patients, as interest in this area of pathology has increased greatly in Romania over the past few years. Practical implications and methodological issues regarding the two instruments are discussed.