Constructs
Demographics. Information about age, sex, education, employment and marital status were assessed through an online survey design. The survey was initially developed by the Dutch National Autism Association (NVA). Specifically, the survey consisted of 53 questions regarding a wide range of topics (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Autisme (NVA), 2008). The survey examined the experience of individuals with autism in the Netherlands and includes diagnostic procedures, treatment and daily functioning Nederlandse Vereniging voor Autisme (NVA, 2008).
Comorbidity disorders were measured through the online survey (NVA, 2008). Specifically participants were asked answer the question: “Next to autism do you have another diagnosis?” Comorbidity as dichotomous variable was rated as (1 = Yes, 2 …show more content…
2011). The AQ consist of two factors evaluating ‘social behavioral difficulties ‘and ‘a fascination for numbers/patterns’ and items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale, with response options 1 (definitely agree) to 4 (definitely disagree). The short version consists of 28 items, which include five factors, evaluating deficits with social skills (‘Social skills’), an inclination for routine (‘Routine’), attention switching deficits (‘Switching’), difficulties with imagination (‘Imagination’), and an obsession for numbers/patterns (‘Numbers/patterns’) (Hoekstra et al., 2011). AQ has been validated in Dutch students, general population adults and in three independent samples, both clinical and controls from the Netherlands and the UK. ROC analysis showed that AQ has an excellent accuracy in distinguishing ASD in individuals with ASD from controls (r=.97), as well as a sensitivity of .97 and a specificity of .82, respectively. Moreover, it has been shown to have acceptable to good internal consistency ranging from .79 to .86 (Hoekstra et al.
Demographics. Information about age, sex, education, employment and marital status were assessed through an online survey design. The survey was initially developed by the Dutch National Autism Association (NVA). Specifically, the survey consisted of 53 questions regarding a wide range of topics (Nederlandse Vereniging voor Autisme (NVA), 2008). The survey examined the experience of individuals with autism in the Netherlands and includes diagnostic procedures, treatment and daily functioning Nederlandse Vereniging voor Autisme (NVA, 2008).
Comorbidity disorders were measured through the online survey (NVA, 2008). Specifically participants were asked answer the question: “Next to autism do you have another diagnosis?” Comorbidity as dichotomous variable was rated as (1 = Yes, 2 …show more content…
2011). The AQ consist of two factors evaluating ‘social behavioral difficulties ‘and ‘a fascination for numbers/patterns’ and items are rated on a 4-point Likert scale, with response options 1 (definitely agree) to 4 (definitely disagree). The short version consists of 28 items, which include five factors, evaluating deficits with social skills (‘Social skills’), an inclination for routine (‘Routine’), attention switching deficits (‘Switching’), difficulties with imagination (‘Imagination’), and an obsession for numbers/patterns (‘Numbers/patterns’) (Hoekstra et al., 2011). AQ has been validated in Dutch students, general population adults and in three independent samples, both clinical and controls from the Netherlands and the UK. ROC analysis showed that AQ has an excellent accuracy in distinguishing ASD in individuals with ASD from controls (r=.97), as well as a sensitivity of .97 and a specificity of .82, respectively. Moreover, it has been shown to have acceptable to good internal consistency ranging from .79 to .86 (Hoekstra et al.