CAREGIVER- AND CHILD-REPORTED ANXIETY USING AN AUTISM-SPECIFIC MEASURE: MEASUREMENT PROPERTIES AND CORRELATES OF THE ANXIETY SCALE FOR CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER (ASC-ASD) IN SINGAPOREAN YOUNG PEOPLE WITH ASD

Abstract

Challenges with accurate assessment of anxiety in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have prompted the development of appropriate autism-specific measures of anxiety. The present study investigated the use of a self- and caregiver-rated screening tool that measures typical and autism-related anxiety symptoms, the Anxiety Scale for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASC-ASD) in a Singaporean sample of eighty young people with ASD (mean age 14 years) and their caregivers. Measurement properties, sensitivity, specificity and adjusted cut-off scores for the ASC-ASD was determined using a short DSM-IV structured diagnostic interview, the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children and Adolescents (MINI-KID). Correlates of ASC-ASD with child characteristics and autistic symptoms were also explored. Internal consistency ranged from good to excellent (a = .68-.93) whereas caregiver-child agreement was low to moderate (r = .27-.45) for ASC-ASD total and subscale scores. Significant evidence for convergent validity and substantial predictive power of ASC-ASD was found. Anxiety ratings were positively associated with autistic symptoms and overall response pattern of specific items indicate strong endorsement of ASD-related anxiety symptoms by children and their caregivers. Findings indicate that ASC-ASD is a promising autism-specific anxiety assessment tool. The study's limitations, clinical utility and future directions are discussed.