Autistic traits in male and female students and individuals with high functioning autism spectrum disorders measured by the Polish version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient

PLoS One. 2013 Sep 23;8(9):e75236. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0075236. eCollection 2013.

Abstract

So far no standardized screening instrument for autism spectrum disorders for adults has been developed in Poland. The main aim of the study was to explore the properties of the Polish version of the Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ), especially its reliability and discriminating power. The second purpose was to establish whether the pattern of sex and area of study differences in the amount of autistic traits found in other countries also exist in Poland. The groups in the study included students (n = 2819), adults with ASD (n = 60) and a non-clinical sample (n = 60) matched with the ASD group for age, sex, education and place of residence. The Polish version of AQ proved to be reliable, although--as in studies conducted in other countries--the internal consistency coefficients for subscales (with exception for social skill) were low. ASD diagnosis was the most powerful determinant of AQ scores. Sex differences in autistic traits and a relationship between autistic traits and area of study were found.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / diagnosis*
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / epidemiology*
  • Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Poland / epidemiology
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales
  • Sex Factors
  • Students

Grants and funding

The study was supported by a grant from the Polish National Science Centre (N N106 352940) and by the Warsaw University. No additional external funding received for this study. The funding institutions had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.