A Systematic Review of Self-Reported Stress Questionnaires in People on the Autism Spectrum

Anoushka Thoen; Jean Steyaert; Kaat Alaerts; Kris Evers; Tine Van Damme

doi:10.1007/s40489-021-00293-4

A Systematic Review of Self-Reported Stress Questionnaires in People on the Autism Spectrum

Rev J Autism Dev Disord. 2023;10(2):295-318. doi: 10.1007/s40489-021-00293-4. Epub 2021 Sep 25.

Authors

Anoushka Thoen^{1

2}, Jean Steyaert^{2

3}, Kaat Alaerts^{2

4}, Kris Evers^{2

3

5}, Tine Van Damme^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Herestraat 49 - box 1510, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Research Group for Adapted Physical Activity and Psychomotor Rehabilitation, KU Leuven.
² Leuven, Belgium Leuven Autism Research (LAuRes), KU Leuven.
³ Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Department of Child Psychiatry, UPC KU Leuven.
⁴ Tervuursevest 101 - box 1501, 3001 Leuven, Belgium Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Neuromotor Rehabilitation Research Group, KU Leuven.
⁵ Leopold Vanderkelenstraat 32 - box 3765, 3000 Leuven, Belgium Parenting and Special Education Research Unit, KU Leuven.

Abstract

Background: The goal of this systematic review was to provide an overview of self-report measures of stress in populations on the autism spectrum. In addition, information regarding psychometric properties was discussed as well.

Methods: Four databases were systematically searched following the PRISMA guidelines and using strict eligibility criteria. Risk of bias assessment was performed using the COSMIN checklist.

Results: Eight questionnaires were previously used in populations on the autism spectrum, reported over 31 studies.

Discussion: Future research should focus more on examining psychometric properties of these self-report measures in this population as current evidence is scarce. In addition, it is important to consider which concept of stress one aims to measure as not all questionnaires cover the same aspects of stress.

Supplementary information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40489-021-00293-4.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; Self-report; Stress; Systematic review.

Publication types

Review