Abstract
Valid and reliable tools to measure mental health are a key requirement to developing a robust evidence base on mental health difficulties and autism. There are several reasons why mental health measures developed for the neurotypical population may not be valid and reliable when used with autistic adults. Using data collected from a national evaluation of community-based, specialist autism provision in England, this study assessed the psychometric properties of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) in a population of autistic adults without learning difficulties. We examined the measure’s acceptability, reliability and internal construct validity. The GHQ-12 was found to have good psychometric properties in this population. This provides first evidence that this measure can be used with autistic adults without LD.
Highlights
There is strong and growing evidence that autistic adults without learning disabilities (LD) are more likely to be diagnosed with chronic mental health problems, anxiety and depression, than the general population (Croen et al 2015; Buck et al 2014; Hofvander et al 2009; Joshi et al 2013; Lugnegard et al 2011).In order to understand and identify the best ways to respond to mental health difficulties experienced by autistic adults, clinicians and researchers need reliable and valid measures of mental health
We assessed the acceptability and psychometric properties of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12 when used with a population of autistic adults without LD
We found that the items and wording of the GHQ-12 was regarded as acceptable by a group of autistic adults without LD
Summary
In order to understand and identify the best ways to respond to mental health difficulties experienced by autistic adults, clinicians and researchers need reliable and valid measures of mental health. They are necessary for establishing the epidemiology of mental health difficulties and evaluating interventions. It is only recently that questions have begun to be asked about whether these measures of mental health are valid and reliable when used in studies of autistic adults. This reflects wider concerns about outcome measurement within the research and practice communities (Ayres et al 2018)
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