Gender bias in autism screening: measurement invariance of different model frameworks of the Autism Spectrum Quotient
Background The Autism Spectrum Quotient is a popular autism screening tool recommended for identifying potential cases of autism. However, many women with autism demonstrate a different presentation of traits to those currently captured by screening measures and assessment methods, such as the Autis...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-09-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Open |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472423005628/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1827801866947264512 |
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| author | Hannah L. Belcher Nora Uglik-Marucha Silia Vitoratou Ruth M. Ford Sharon Morein-Zamir |
| author_facet | Hannah L. Belcher Nora Uglik-Marucha Silia Vitoratou Ruth M. Ford Sharon Morein-Zamir |
| author_sort | Hannah L. Belcher |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background
The Autism Spectrum Quotient is a popular autism screening tool recommended for identifying potential cases of autism. However, many women with autism demonstrate a different presentation of traits to those currently captured by screening measures and assessment methods, such as the Autism Spectrum Quotient.
Aims
Different models of the Autism Spectrum Quotient have been proposed in the literature, utilising different items from the original 50-item scale. Within good-fitting models, the current study aimed to explore whether these items assess autistic traits similarly across men and women.
Method
Seventeen Autism Spectrum Quotient models were identified from the literature. Using the responses of a large sample of adults from the UK general population (5246 women, 1830 men), confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the fit of each model. Measurement invariance with respect to gender, adjusting for age, was explored in the 11 model frameworks that were found to have satisfactory fit to our data.
Results
It emerged that only two items were gender invariant (non-biased), whereas for the remaining items, the probability of endorsement was influenced by gender. In particular, women had a higher probability of endorsing items relating to social skills and communication.
Conclusions
If the items of the Autism Spectrum Quotient indeed reflect autism-related traits, those items should be rephrased to ensure they do not present a gender-related bias. This is vital for ensuring more timely diagnoses and support for all people with autism.
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| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:30:33Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9f9950eb0ed549de9ebd31ed1f77455f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2056-4724 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:30:33Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BJPsych Open |
| spelling | doaj.art-9f9950eb0ed549de9ebd31ed1f77455f2023-10-02T09:17:23ZengCambridge University PressBJPsych Open2056-47242023-09-01910.1192/bjo.2023.562Gender bias in autism screening: measurement invariance of different model frameworks of the Autism Spectrum QuotientHannah L. Belcher0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5738-8638Nora Uglik-Marucha1Silia Vitoratou2Ruth M. Ford3Sharon Morein-Zamir4Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UKPsychometrics and Measurement Laboratory, Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UKPsychometrics and Measurement Laboratory, Department of Biostatistics and Health Informatics, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, UKSchool of Psychology and Sports Science, Anglia Ruskin University, UKSchool of Psychology and Sports Science, Anglia Ruskin University, UKBackground The Autism Spectrum Quotient is a popular autism screening tool recommended for identifying potential cases of autism. However, many women with autism demonstrate a different presentation of traits to those currently captured by screening measures and assessment methods, such as the Autism Spectrum Quotient. Aims Different models of the Autism Spectrum Quotient have been proposed in the literature, utilising different items from the original 50-item scale. Within good-fitting models, the current study aimed to explore whether these items assess autistic traits similarly across men and women. Method Seventeen Autism Spectrum Quotient models were identified from the literature. Using the responses of a large sample of adults from the UK general population (5246 women, 1830 men), confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the fit of each model. Measurement invariance with respect to gender, adjusting for age, was explored in the 11 model frameworks that were found to have satisfactory fit to our data. Results It emerged that only two items were gender invariant (non-biased), whereas for the remaining items, the probability of endorsement was influenced by gender. In particular, women had a higher probability of endorsing items relating to social skills and communication. Conclusions If the items of the Autism Spectrum Quotient indeed reflect autism-related traits, those items should be rephrased to ensure they do not present a gender-related bias. This is vital for ensuring more timely diagnoses and support for all people with autism. https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472423005628/type/journal_articleAutistic spectrum disordersneurodevelopmental disorderspsychological testingstatistical methodologycommunity mental health teams |
| spellingShingle | Hannah L. Belcher Nora Uglik-Marucha Silia Vitoratou Ruth M. Ford Sharon Morein-Zamir Gender bias in autism screening: measurement invariance of different model frameworks of the Autism Spectrum Quotient BJPsych Open Autistic spectrum disorders neurodevelopmental disorders psychological testing statistical methodology community mental health teams |
| title | Gender bias in autism screening: measurement invariance of different model frameworks of the Autism Spectrum Quotient |
| title_full | Gender bias in autism screening: measurement invariance of different model frameworks of the Autism Spectrum Quotient |
| title_fullStr | Gender bias in autism screening: measurement invariance of different model frameworks of the Autism Spectrum Quotient |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gender bias in autism screening: measurement invariance of different model frameworks of the Autism Spectrum Quotient |
| title_short | Gender bias in autism screening: measurement invariance of different model frameworks of the Autism Spectrum Quotient |
| title_sort | gender bias in autism screening measurement invariance of different model frameworks of the autism spectrum quotient |
| topic | Autistic spectrum disorders neurodevelopmental disorders psychological testing statistical methodology community mental health teams |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472423005628/type/journal_article |
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