Development and Validation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q).

Authors
Mandy, William 
Lai, Meng-Chuan 
Baron-Cohen, Simon 
Allison, Carrie 

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Article
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Abstract

There currently exist no self-report measures of social camouflaging behaviours (strategies used to compensate for or mask autistic characteristics during social interactions). The Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) was developed from autistic adults' experiences of camouflaging, and was administered online to 354 autistic and 478 non-autistic adults. Exploratory factor analysis suggested three factors, comprising of 25 items in total. Good model fit was demonstrated through confirmatory factor analysis, with measurement invariance analyses demonstrating equivalent factor structures across gender and diagnostic group. Internal consistency (α = 0.94) and preliminary test-retest reliability (r = 0.77) were acceptable. Convergent validity was demonstrated through comparison with measures of autistic traits, wellbeing, anxiety, and depression. The present study provides robust psychometric support for the CAT-Q.

Publication Date
2019-03
Online Publication Date
2018-10-25
Acceptance Date
Keywords
Autism, Camouflaging, Compensation, Coping Strategies, Masking, Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anxiety Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Depressive Disorder, Factor Analysis, Statistical, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Male, Middle Aged, Psychometrics, Reproducibility of Results, Self Report, Social Behavior, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult
Journal Title
J Autism Dev Disord
Journal ISSN
0162-3257
1573-3432
Volume Title
49
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Sponsorship
Autism Research Trust (unknown)
Templeton World Charity Foundation (TWCF) (TWCF0138/AB89)
Medical Research Council (G0600977)
Wellcome Trust (091774/Z/10/Z)