Validation of the Italian version of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) in a University population

Dell’Osso, Liliana; Cremone, Ivan Mirko; Muti, Dario; Massimetti, Gabriele; Lorenzi, P.; Carmassi, Claudia; Carpita, Barbara

doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2022.152295

Cited by 18 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Our findings confirm the strong relationship between autism spectrum and camouflaging behaviors, considering the significantly higher presence of camouflaging among subjects in the more severe range of the autism spectrum. 26,29,35,46 Similarly, we found that students of "Pure Sciences" reported the highest CAT-Q scores, and students of "Applied Sciences" the lowest. Since ATs seem to be distributed continuously in the population, it is possible that also camouflaging would feature a similar distribution, and should be considered as a dimensional characteristic.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

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Autistic traits and camouflaging behaviors: a cross-sectional investigation in a University student population

et al. 2021

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Background Increasing research is stressing the importance of identifying autistic traits (ATs) in clinical and general populations. University students may be a group at higher risk for the presence of ATs. Recently, specific attention has been paid to camouflaging strategies used by subjects in the autism spectrum in order to cope with the social environment. The aim of this work was to evaluate the prevalence of ATs and camouflaging behaviors in a population of University students. Methods Subjects were requested to anonymously fill out through an online form the Adult Autism Subthreshold Spectrum and the Camouflaging AT Questionnaire. Results ATs were more represented among males and among students of specific fields of study. Camouflaging behaviors were significantly more frequent among subjects with more severe autism spectrum symptoms, without differences depending from sex. Conclusions Our study confirms the strong association between ATs and camouflaging behaviors and the relationship between ATs, sex, and specific fields of study.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

“…Recently, Dell'Osso et al validated an Italian version of the instrument, which demonstrated excellent internal consistency and test-retest reliability, showing also strong correlations with other instruments assessing the autism spectrum. 46…”

Section: Instrumentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autistic traits and camouflaging behaviors: a cross-sectional investigation in a University student population

et al. 2021

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“…Although the observed effect was small, executive function issues were inversely correlated with self-reported total and masking scores on the CAT-Q [ 81 ]. In the validation study of the Italian version of the CAT-Q, the authors also confirmed the association between camouflaging behaviors and autistic traits as measured by the Adults Autism Subthreshold Spectrum (AdAS Spectrum) questionnaire in a sample of university students and workers [ 73 ]. A further investigation in Italy [ 82 ] explored the prevalence of autistic traits and camouflaging behaviors in a population of university students.…”

Section: Attempting To Measure Camouflaging: State Of the Artmentioning

confidence: 79%

“…In this framework of increasing interest towards social camouflaging, during 2019, Hull et al [ 72 ] developed and validated the “Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire” (CAT–Q), which, to the best of our knowledge, still remains the only available instrument for measuring this condition. An Italian version is also available [ 73 ]. The questionnaire is composed of 25 items, whose answers are organized in a seven-point Likert scale and are divided into three domains: Compensation , which includes nine items and aims to investigate actively compensative behaviors put in place to adjust to social situations; Masking , which includes eight items and measures the habit of hiding autistic-like features; and Assimilation , which contains eight items and investigates the strategies used in attempting to fit in with others during social interactions.…”

Section: Attempting To Measure Camouflaging: State Of the Artmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The questionnaire is composed of 25 items, whose answers are organized in a seven-point Likert scale and are divided into three domains: Compensation , which includes nine items and aims to investigate actively compensative behaviors put in place to adjust to social situations; Masking , which includes eight items and measures the habit of hiding autistic-like features; and Assimilation , which contains eight items and investigates the strategies used in attempting to fit in with others during social interactions. Both the English and the Italian version showed excellent internal consistency, test re-test reliability and convergent validity with other instruments assessing the autism spectrum [ 72 , 73 ]. The validation study of the CAT-Q was conducted in 354 ASD participants and 478 non-ASD adults.…”

Section: Attempting To Measure Camouflaging: State Of the Artmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Measuring Social Camouflaging in Individuals with High Functioning Autism: A Literature Review

et al. 2023

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In the recent years, growing attention has been paid to the use of camouflaging strategies by adult populations suffering from autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with milder manifestations and without intellectual impairment, which may lead to a delay in diagnosis or even a misdiagnosis. In fact, high-functioning ASD individuals were reported to be more aware of their communication difficulties and were more likely make considerable efforts to adjust their behavior to conventional rules of non-autistic individuals, learning to imitate other non-ASD individuals. Moreover, females reported a higher frequency of camouflaging strategies, suggesting a role of camouflaging in the gender gap of the ASD diagnosis. Although camouflaging strategies can sometimes grant a better level of adjustment, even resulting in a hyper-adaptive behavior, they are also often correlated with negative mental health consequences due to the long-term stress associated with continuous attempts to adapt in day-to-day life. In this framework, the aim of the present work was to review the available studies that assessed the presence and correlates of camouflaging strategies in individuals with ASD. Although the literature available on the topic is still scarce, some interesting correlations between camouflaging and anxious and depressive symptoms, as well as suicidality, were highlighted. In particular, the controversial and sometime opposite thoughts and results about camouflaging may be clarified and integrated in light of a dimensional approach to psychopathology.

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A comparison of methods for measuring camouflaging in autism

2022

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Interest in social camouflaging has led to a multiplicity of measurement methods of uncertain validity. This two-part investigation first used a systematic review ("Study 1") to identify and appraise methods used to quantify camouflaging of autistic traits, using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments checklist. A total of 16 distinct measurement tools were identified; all are in the preliminary phases of psychometric evaluation. The systematic review highlighted: (1) the need for parent-report tools which specifically measure camouflaging; and (2) a lack of studies looking at associations between different methods of camouflaging, which limits understanding of their validity. "Study 2" aimed to begin to address these gaps in knowledge. We created a parent-report version of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) and evaluated its concurrent validity in autistic young people by examining associations with the self-report CAT-Q and a discrepancy measure. Discriminant validity was investigated by comparing all three methods of measuring camouflaging to a measure of social skills, to test whether they assess a construct distinct from social ability. The self-and parent-report CAT-Q were significantly related (r = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.24-0.65), and were related weakly (r = 0.20, 95% CI = À0.06 to 0.43) and strongly (r = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.23-0.64), respectively, to the discrepancy approach. No measure was associated with social skills. Improving the psychometric properties of these methods, and introducing a novel parentreport measure, may help selection of appropriate methods in future research and integration into clinical practice. Lay SummaryThe first study looked at published research to evaluate tools used to measure camouflaging in autism; showing that there is still much to learn about whether existing measures are accurate, and that there are no parent-report tools designed to measure camouflaging. The second study started to fill these gaps in knowledge, by developing and testing a parent-report camouflaging measure, and comparing it to other common ways of measuring camouflaging. This showed that, for teenagers, a new parent-report questionnaire can be useful for measuring camouflaging.

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Validation of the Italian version of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) in a University population

Cited by 18 publications

References 48 publications

Autistic traits and camouflaging behaviors: a cross-sectional investigation in a University student population

Autistic traits and camouflaging behaviors: a cross-sectional investigation in a University student population

Measuring Social Camouflaging in Individuals with High Functioning Autism: A Literature Review

A comparison of methods for measuring camouflaging in autism

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