Assessing the Validity and Reliability of the Chinese Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Aged 1–6

The Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (VABS), a widely used assessment tool for assessing developmental profiles of children, has been adapted to various cultural contexts with proven efficacy. This study evaluated the applicability and efficacy of the Chinese Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales (CVABS-III) in assessing children with different developmental profiles within the context of Chinese culture. The VABS items were meticulously translated and modified to reflect cultural relevancy. We assessed 2118 Chinese preschoolers aged 1–6 years, including those with typical development (TD; n = 943), and various clinical subgroups including autism spectrum disorder (ASD; n = 449), developmental delay (DD; n = 477), and speech and language developmental delay (SLDD; n = 249). Internal reliability, construct validity, and discriminant validity with the Gesell Developmental Schedules were assessed. The CVABS-III demonstrated excellent internal consistency and construct validity. It effectively distinguished between TD children and those with ASD, DD, or SLDD. It also showed progressively stronger correlations with the Gesell Developmental Schedules especially in children aged 3–6 years. These findings confirm that the CVABS-III retains the robust psychometric properties of its original VABS while being suitably adapted for the Chinese context. This adaptation enhances the scale's utility for early identification and intervention in developmental delays within diverse Chinese populations. Future research might explore further refinement to improve its applicability across all ages and developmental conditions.