Additional psychometric properties of the WHODAS-II in individuals with autism spectrum disorder / Z. J. WILLIAMS in Autism Research, 12-12 (December)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism Research > 12-12 (December) . - p.1724-1725 Titre : Additional psychometric properties of the WHODAS-II in individuals with autism spectrum disorder Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Z. J. WILLIAMS, Auteur Année de publication : 2019 Article en page(s) : p.1724-1725 Langues : Anglais (eng) Index. décimale : PER Périodiques En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.2215 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=413 [article] Additional psychometric properties of the WHODAS-II in individuals with autism spectrum disorder [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Z. J. WILLIAMS, Auteur . - 2019 . - p.1724-1725. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism Research > 12-12 (December) . - p.1724-1725 Index. décimale : PER Périodiques En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.2215 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=413

Assessing general and autism-relevant quality of life in autistic adults: A psychometric investigation using item response theory / Z. J. WILLIAMS in Autism Research, 14-8 (August 2021)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism Research > 14-8 (August 2021) . - p.1633-1644 Titre : Assessing general and autism-relevant quality of life in autistic adults: A psychometric investigation using item response theory Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Z. J. WILLIAMS, Auteur ; K. O. GOTHAM, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.1633-1644 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Adult  Autism Spectrum Disorder  Autistic Disorder  Female  Humans  Male  Psychometrics  Quality of Life  Sexism  Surveys and Questionnaires  ASQoL  autism  differential item functioning  item response theory  measurement invariance  quality of life  reliability  sex differences  validity  well-being  Roche. He also serves on the family advisory committee of the Autism Speaks Autism  Treatment Network Vanderbilt site and the autistic researcher review board of the  Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P). Katherine Gotham  has no conflicts of interest to disclose. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Although many interventions and services for autistic people have the ultimate goal of improving quality of life (QoL), there is relatively little research on how best to assess this construct in the autistic population, and existing scales designed for non-autistic individuals may not assess all meaningful facets of QoL in the autistic population. To address this need, the autism spectrum QoL form (ASQoL) was recently developed as a measure of the autism-relevant quality of life. However, the psychometrics of the ASQoL have not been examined beyond the authors' initial validation study, and important properties such as measurement invariance/differential item functioning (DIF) have not yet been tested. Using data from 700 autistic adults recruited from the Simons Foundation's SPARK cohort, the current study sought to perform a comprehensive independent psychometric evaluation of the ASQoL using item response theory, comparing its performance to a newly-proposed brief measure of general QoL (the WHOQOL-4). Our models revealed substantial DIF by sex and gender in the ASQoL, which caused ASQoL scores to grossly underestimate the self-reported QoL of autistic women. Based on a comparison of latent variable means, we demonstrated that observed sex/gender differences in manifest ASQoL scores were the result of statistical artifacts, a claim that was further supported by the lack of significant group differences on the sex/gender-invariant WHOQOL-4. Our findings indicate that the ASQoL composite score is psychometrically problematic in its current form, and substantial revisions may be necessary before valid and meaningful inferences can be made regarding autism-relevant aspects of QoL. LAY SUMMARY: Quality of life (QoL) is an extremely important outcome for autistic people, but many of the tools that are used to measure it does not take into account how QoL may be different for autistic people. Using data from 700 autistic adults, we examined the measurement properties of the autism spectrum quality of life form (ASQoL), a new measure of QoL designed specifically for autistic people. Our results indicate that the ASQoL shows a pronounced sex/gender bias, which causes it to underestimate QoL in autistic women. This bias needs to be eliminated before the ASQoL can be successfully used to measure QoL in the autistic population. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.2519 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=449 [article] Assessing general and autism-relevant quality of life in autistic adults: A psychometric investigation using item response theory [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Z. J. WILLIAMS, Auteur ; K. O. GOTHAM, Auteur . - p.1633-1644. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism Research > 14-8 (August 2021) . - p.1633-1644 Mots-clés : Adult  Autism Spectrum Disorder  Autistic Disorder  Female  Humans  Male  Psychometrics  Quality of Life  Sexism  Surveys and Questionnaires  ASQoL  autism  differential item functioning  item response theory  measurement invariance  quality of life  reliability  sex differences  validity  well-being  Roche. He also serves on the family advisory committee of the Autism Speaks Autism  Treatment Network Vanderbilt site and the autistic researcher review board of the  Autism Intervention Research Network on Physical Health (AIR-P). Katherine Gotham  has no conflicts of interest to disclose. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Although many interventions and services for autistic people have the ultimate goal of improving quality of life (QoL), there is relatively little research on how best to assess this construct in the autistic population, and existing scales designed for non-autistic individuals may not assess all meaningful facets of QoL in the autistic population. To address this need, the autism spectrum QoL form (ASQoL) was recently developed as a measure of the autism-relevant quality of life. However, the psychometrics of the ASQoL have not been examined beyond the authors' initial validation study, and important properties such as measurement invariance/differential item functioning (DIF) have not yet been tested. Using data from 700 autistic adults recruited from the Simons Foundation's SPARK cohort, the current study sought to perform a comprehensive independent psychometric evaluation of the ASQoL using item response theory, comparing its performance to a newly-proposed brief measure of general QoL (the WHOQOL-4). Our models revealed substantial DIF by sex and gender in the ASQoL, which caused ASQoL scores to grossly underestimate the self-reported QoL of autistic women. Based on a comparison of latent variable means, we demonstrated that observed sex/gender differences in manifest ASQoL scores were the result of statistical artifacts, a claim that was further supported by the lack of significant group differences on the sex/gender-invariant WHOQOL-4. Our findings indicate that the ASQoL composite score is psychometrically problematic in its current form, and substantial revisions may be necessary before valid and meaningful inferences can be made regarding autism-relevant aspects of QoL. LAY SUMMARY: Quality of life (QoL) is an extremely important outcome for autistic people, but many of the tools that are used to measure it does not take into account how QoL may be different for autistic people. Using data from 700 autistic adults, we examined the measurement properties of the autism spectrum quality of life form (ASQoL), a new measure of QoL designed specifically for autistic people. Our results indicate that the ASQoL shows a pronounced sex/gender bias, which causes it to underestimate QoL in autistic women. This bias needs to be eliminated before the ASQoL can be successfully used to measure QoL in the autistic population. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aur.2519 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=449

Commentary: The construct validity of 'camouflaging' in autism: psychometric considerations and recommendations for future research - reflection on Lai et al. (2020) / Z. J. WILLIAMS in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 63-1 (January 2022)  

Public ISBD [article]  inJournal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry > 63-1 (January 2022) . - p.118-121 Titre : Commentary: The construct validity of 'camouflaging' in autism: psychometric considerations and recommendations for future research - reflection on Lai et al. (2020) Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Z. J. WILLIAMS, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.118-121 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Autistic Disorder  Humans  Mental Health  Psychometrics  Research Design  Research Personnel Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Research on the construct of 'camouflaging' in autism and its sociodemographic/clinical correlates has far outpaced the work being done to establish the construct validity of camouflaging and its distinction from other similar constructs. The imprecision with which camouflaging is defined and measured has serious implications for future research on this topic, and unless additional effort is made to produce reliable and valid measurements of this construct, researchers will not be able to meaningfully assess important questions such as whether the effort of camouflaging one's behavior contributes to increased mental health difficulties. By reviewing the psychometric strengths and weaknesses of various operationalizations of camouflaging, this commentary highlights a pressing need for further measure validation in this area. Specific methodological guidance is provided for researchers interested in rigorously testing the validity of putative camouflaging measures. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13468 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=457 [article] Commentary: The construct validity of 'camouflaging' in autism: psychometric considerations and recommendations for future research - reflection on Lai et al. (2020) [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Z. J. WILLIAMS, Auteur . - p.118-121. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry > 63-1 (January 2022) . - p.118-121 Mots-clés : Autistic Disorder  Humans  Mental Health  Psychometrics  Research Design  Research Personnel Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Research on the construct of 'camouflaging' in autism and its sociodemographic/clinical correlates has far outpaced the work being done to establish the construct validity of camouflaging and its distinction from other similar constructs. The imprecision with which camouflaging is defined and measured has serious implications for future research on this topic, and unless additional effort is made to produce reliable and valid measurements of this construct, researchers will not be able to meaningfully assess important questions such as whether the effort of camouflaging one's behavior contributes to increased mental health difficulties. By reviewing the psychometric strengths and weaknesses of various operationalizations of camouflaging, this commentary highlights a pressing need for further measure validation in this area. Specific methodological guidance is provided for researchers interested in rigorously testing the validity of putative camouflaging measures. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13468 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=457

Diagnostic- and sex-based differences in depression symptoms in autistic and neurotypical early adolescents / Jessica M. SCHWARTZMAN in Autism, 26-1 (January 2022)  

Public ISBD [article]  inAutism > 26-1 (January 2022) . - p.256-269 Titre : Diagnostic- and sex-based differences in depression symptoms in autistic and neurotypical early adolescents Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Jessica M. SCHWARTZMAN, Auteur ; Z. J. WILLIAMS, Auteur ; B. A. CORBETT, Auteur Article en page(s) : p.256-269 Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : autism  depression  early adolescent  measurement  peers  sex  financial compensation from the non-profit 501©(3) entity. Zachary Williams serves  on the Family Advisory Committee of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network  Vanderbilt site. He also consults for Roche. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Depression is more common in autistic adolescents than their neurotypical peers, but the effects of diagnosis and sex on the severity and types of depressive symptoms remain unclear. The study explored diagnostic- and sex-based differences in depressive symptoms in 212 autistic and neurotypical early adolescents. Results show that autism spectrum disorder and female may pose elevated risks, and depressive symptoms related to interpersonal problems and negative self-esteem are more frequent in autism spectrum disorder. Autistic males and females endorsed similar severity and type of depressive symptoms, but unique differences emerged when compared to sex-matched neurotypical peers. Exploratory analyses in a clinical subsample of early adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms (Children's Depression Inventory, Second Edition, Total T-score ?60) revealed more endorsement of beliefs of worthlessness in autistic early adolescents. Findings suggest initial intervention targets for treating depression in autistic early adolescents. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613211025895 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=451 [article] Diagnostic- and sex-based differences in depression symptoms in autistic and neurotypical early adolescents [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Jessica M. SCHWARTZMAN, Auteur ; Z. J. WILLIAMS, Auteur ; B. A. CORBETT, Auteur . - p.256-269. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Autism > 26-1 (January 2022) . - p.256-269 Mots-clés : autism  depression  early adolescent  measurement  peers  sex  financial compensation from the non-profit 501©(3) entity. Zachary Williams serves  on the Family Advisory Committee of the Autism Speaks Autism Treatment Network  Vanderbilt site. He also consults for Roche. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : Depression is more common in autistic adolescents than their neurotypical peers, but the effects of diagnosis and sex on the severity and types of depressive symptoms remain unclear. The study explored diagnostic- and sex-based differences in depressive symptoms in 212 autistic and neurotypical early adolescents. Results show that autism spectrum disorder and female may pose elevated risks, and depressive symptoms related to interpersonal problems and negative self-esteem are more frequent in autism spectrum disorder. Autistic males and females endorsed similar severity and type of depressive symptoms, but unique differences emerged when compared to sex-matched neurotypical peers. Exploratory analyses in a clinical subsample of early adolescents with elevated depressive symptoms (Children's Depression Inventory, Second Edition, Total T-score ?60) revealed more endorsement of beliefs of worthlessness in autistic early adolescents. Findings suggest initial intervention targets for treating depression in autistic early adolescents. En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/13623613211025895 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=451

Improving the measurement of alexithymia in autistic adults: a psychometric investigation and refinement of the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale / Z. J. WILLIAMS in Molecular Autism, 12 (2021)  

Public ISBD [article]  inMolecular Autism > 12 (2021) . - 20 p. Titre : Improving the measurement of alexithymia in autistic adults: a psychometric investigation and refinement of the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale Type de document : Texte imprimé et/ou numérique Auteurs : Z. J. WILLIAMS, Auteur ; K. O. GOTHAM, Auteur Article en page(s) : 20 p. Langues : Anglais (eng) Mots-clés : Adolescent  Adult  Affective Symptoms/diagnosis  Autistic Disorder/psychology  Factor Analysis, Statistical  Female  Humans  Male  Psychiatric Status Rating Scales  Psychometrics  Reproducibility of Results  Surveys and Questionnaires  Young Adult  Alexithymia  Autism  Bayesian statistics  Differential item functioning  Emotion  Factor analysis  Item response theory  Measurement  Psychometric  Reliability  Validity  Network Vanderbilt site and the autistic researcher review board of the Autism  Intervention Network for Physical Health (AIR-P). ZJW also serves as a consultant to  Roche. KOG has no competing interests. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Alexithymia, a personality trait characterized by difficulties interpreting one's own emotional states, is commonly elevated in autistic adults, and a growing body of literature suggests that this trait underlies a number of cognitive and emotional differences previously attributed to autism, such as difficulties in facial emotion recognition and reduced empathy. Although questionnaires such as the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) are frequently used to measure alexithymia in the autistic population, few studies have attempted to determine the psychometric properties of these questionnaires in autistic adults, including whether differential item functioning (I-DIF) exists between autistic and general population adults. METHODS: We conducted an in-depth psychometric analysis of the TAS-20 in a large sample of 743 verbal autistic adults recruited from the Simons Foundation SPARK participant pool and 721 general population controls enrolled in a large international psychological study (the Human Penguin Project). The factor structure of the TAS-20 was examined using confirmatory factor analysis, and item response theory was used to further refine the scale based on local model misfit and I-DIF between the groups. Correlations between alexithymia and other clinical outcomes such as autistic traits, anxiety, and quality-of-life were used to assess the nomological validity of the revised alexithymia scale in the SPARK sample. RESULTS: The TAS-20 did not exhibit adequate global model fit in either the autistic or general population samples. Empirically driven item reduction was undertaken, resulting in an eight-item unidimensional scale (TAS-8) with sound psychometric properties and practically ignorable I-DIF between diagnostic groups. Correlational analyses indicated that TAS-8 scores meaningfully predict autistic trait levels, anxiety and depression symptoms, and quality of life, even after controlling for trait neuroticism. LIMITATIONS: Limitations of the current study include a sample of autistic adults that was overwhelmingly female, later-diagnosed, and well-educated; clinical and control groups drawn from different studies with variable measures; and an inability to test several other important psychometric characteristics of the TAS-8, including sensitivity to change and I-DIF across multiple administrations. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the potential of the TAS-8 as a psychometrically robust tool to measure alexithymia in both autistic and non-autistic adults. A free online score calculator has been created to facilitate the use of norm-referenced TAS-8 latent trait scores in research applications (available at http://asdmeasures.shinyapps.io/TAS8_Score ). En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-021-00427-9 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=459 [article] Improving the measurement of alexithymia in autistic adults: a psychometric investigation and refinement of the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale [Texte imprimé et/ou numérique] / Z. J. WILLIAMS, Auteur ; K. O. GOTHAM, Auteur . - 20 p. Langues : Anglais (eng) in Molecular Autism > 12 (2021) . - 20 p. Mots-clés : Adolescent  Adult  Affective Symptoms/diagnosis  Autistic Disorder/psychology  Factor Analysis, Statistical  Female  Humans  Male  Psychiatric Status Rating Scales  Psychometrics  Reproducibility of Results  Surveys and Questionnaires  Young Adult  Alexithymia  Autism  Bayesian statistics  Differential item functioning  Emotion  Factor analysis  Item response theory  Measurement  Psychometric  Reliability  Validity  Network Vanderbilt site and the autistic researcher review board of the Autism  Intervention Network for Physical Health (AIR-P). ZJW also serves as a consultant to  Roche. KOG has no competing interests. Index. décimale : PER Périodiques Résumé : BACKGROUND: Alexithymia, a personality trait characterized by difficulties interpreting one's own emotional states, is commonly elevated in autistic adults, and a growing body of literature suggests that this trait underlies a number of cognitive and emotional differences previously attributed to autism, such as difficulties in facial emotion recognition and reduced empathy. Although questionnaires such as the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) are frequently used to measure alexithymia in the autistic population, few studies have attempted to determine the psychometric properties of these questionnaires in autistic adults, including whether differential item functioning (I-DIF) exists between autistic and general population adults. METHODS: We conducted an in-depth psychometric analysis of the TAS-20 in a large sample of 743 verbal autistic adults recruited from the Simons Foundation SPARK participant pool and 721 general population controls enrolled in a large international psychological study (the Human Penguin Project). The factor structure of the TAS-20 was examined using confirmatory factor analysis, and item response theory was used to further refine the scale based on local model misfit and I-DIF between the groups. Correlations between alexithymia and other clinical outcomes such as autistic traits, anxiety, and quality-of-life were used to assess the nomological validity of the revised alexithymia scale in the SPARK sample. RESULTS: The TAS-20 did not exhibit adequate global model fit in either the autistic or general population samples. Empirically driven item reduction was undertaken, resulting in an eight-item unidimensional scale (TAS-8) with sound psychometric properties and practically ignorable I-DIF between diagnostic groups. Correlational analyses indicated that TAS-8 scores meaningfully predict autistic trait levels, anxiety and depression symptoms, and quality of life, even after controlling for trait neuroticism. LIMITATIONS: Limitations of the current study include a sample of autistic adults that was overwhelmingly female, later-diagnosed, and well-educated; clinical and control groups drawn from different studies with variable measures; and an inability to test several other important psychometric characteristics of the TAS-8, including sensitivity to change and I-DIF across multiple administrations. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the potential of the TAS-8 as a psychometrically robust tool to measure alexithymia in both autistic and non-autistic adults. A free online score calculator has been created to facilitate the use of norm-referenced TAS-8 latent trait scores in research applications (available at http://asdmeasures.shinyapps.io/TAS8_Score ). En ligne : http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-021-00427-9 Permalink : https://www.cra-rhone-alpes.org/cid/opac_css/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=459

Improving the measurement of alexithymia in autistic adults: a psychometric investigation of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale and generation of a general alexithymia factor score using item response theory / Z. J. WILLIAMS in Molecular Autism, 12 (2021)  

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Investigating the structure of trait rumination in autistic adults: A network analysis / Z. J. WILLIAMS in Autism, 25-7 (October 2021)  

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Psychometric Evaluation of the Short Sensory Profile in Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder / Z. J. WILLIAMS in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 48-12 (December 2018)  

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Psychometric validation and refinement of the Interoception Sensory Questionnaire (ISQ) in adolescents and adults on the autism spectrum / E. SUZMAN in Molecular Autism, 12 (2021)  

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Retraction Note to: Improving the measurement of alexithymia in autistic adults: a psychometric investigation and refinement of the twenty-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale / Z. J. WILLIAMS in Molecular Autism, 12 (2021)  

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