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The Subthreshold Autism Trait Questionnaire (SATQ): Development of a Brief Self-Report Measure of Subthreshold Autism Traits

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Abstract

The current study was motivated by a need for a self-report questionnaire that assesses a broad range of subthreshold autism traits, is brief and easily administered, and is relevant to the general population. An initial item pool was administered to 1,709 students. Structural validity analysis resulted in a 24-item questionnaire termed the Subthreshold Autism Trait Questionnaire (SATQ; Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = .73, test–retest reliability = .79). An exploratory factor analysis suggested 5 factors. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated the 5 factor solution was an adequate fit and outperformed two other models. The SATQ successfully differentiated between an ASD and student group and demonstrated convergent validity with other ASD measures. Thus, the current study introduces and provides initial psychometric support for the SATQ.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by grants from the MU Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment Disorders (SC & SK) and MU Research Board (SC). The authors would like to thank Lauren Kruczyk, Kimberly Pope, and Brittany Waller for their assistance with data collection.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Psychology Section, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, 1102 Bates, Ste. 730, Houston, TX, 77030-2399, USA

    Stephen M. Kanne

  2. Department of Health Psychology and Thompson Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65212, USA

    Jennifer Wang

  3. Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA

    Shawn E. Christ

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  1. Stephen M. Kanne
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  2. Jennifer Wang
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  3. Shawn E. Christ
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Correspondence to Stephen M. Kanne.

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Kanne, S.M., Wang, J. & Christ, S.E. The Subthreshold Autism Trait Questionnaire (SATQ): Development of a Brief Self-Report Measure of Subthreshold Autism Traits. J Autism Dev Disord 42, 769–780 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1308-8

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