Adaptation of Anxiety Scale for Children-Autism Spectrum Disorder-Parent Version (ASC-ASD-P-TR) to Turkish Culture and Examination of Psychometric Properties.

OBJECTIVES: Accurate assessment of anxiety symptoms in children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be challenging due to the lack of appropriate assessment tools. This study aimed to adapt the Anxiety Scale for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder- Parent Version into Turkish (referred to as ASC-ASD-P-TR) to enable parents to assess anxiety in children with ASD. METHODS: This methodological study was conducted between October 2023 and March 2024 with parents of children diagnosed with ASD aged 8-15 years. 371 parents participated in the study. Data were collected online. Content validity, construct validity, internal reliability and split-half reliability. were examined. RESULTS: The construct of the ASC-ASD-P-TR, which consists of four dimensions (Performance, Separation, Arousal, and Uncertainty) and 24 items, was validated in Turkish. The scale has a score range between 24 and 96, and an increase in score means an increase in anxiety. The total variance explained by the scale is 61%. Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient for the overall scale is 0.94. In the sub-dimensions of the scale, Cronbach’s alpha value was between 0.66 and 0.80. CONCLUSION: The ASC-ASD-P-TR is a valid and reliable measurement tool for assessing anxiety in children with ASD in Turkiye.