Validation of the German Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire and replication of sensory processing differences in students with higher and lower Autism-Spectrum Quotient

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

Abstract

Background: The Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire (GSQ) gives insight into sensory processing differences (hypo- and hyper-sensitivity across modalities), which is a clinically defining characteristic of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Because there is no validated German version of this instrument, this study aimed at validating the German GSQ. Further, a replication of the GSQ’s sensory processing differences was intended. Methods: University students of Technische Universität or Universitätsklinikum in Dresden, Germany, were recruited via email distribution or the university homepage and 297 German-speaking students completed the online survey, comprising the German GSQ, Autism-Spectrum Quotient (AQ) and Symptom-Checklist (SCL-90). For validation of the German GSQ, confirmatory factor analyses followed by exploratory factor analyses were applied. Results: The German GSQ has moderate to low validity, good to acceptable reliability, and a different internal structure from the original GSQ. Replicating the sensory processing differences in students with higher and lower AQ was not successful. Conclusions: Results indicate that the GSQ, developed especially for individuals with ASD, is less informative for the general population if there are not enough individuals with higher AQ scores in the sample.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number426
JournalBMC psychiatry
Volume23
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2023
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 37316778
ORCID /0000-0001-7579-1829/work/142246108

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Keywords

  • Autism spectrum disorder, Autism-Spectrum Quotient, Cross-cultural adaptation, Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire, Sensory processing differences, Reproducibility of Results, Students, Autistic Disorder, Humans, Surveys and Questionnaires, Perception, Autism Spectrum Disorder/diagnosis