Autism Spectrum Disorders and Self-reports: Testing Validity and Reliability Using the NEO-PI-R

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Background:

• Self-reported measures are common for assessing adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
• However, the psychometric validity of these self-reports in ASD populations requires further investigation due to core symptom impact.
• The NEO Personality Inventory-Revised (NEO-PI-R) is a widely used personality assessment tool.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the validity and reliability of self-reported data using the NEO-PI-R in adults with ASD.
• To determine if self-reported personality assessments are psychometrically sound for this demographic.

Main Methods:

• Forty-eight adults diagnosed with ASD and 53 neurotypical controls completed the NEO-PI-R.
• Participants also underwent a structured psychiatric interview for clinician ratings.
• Statistical analyses examined internal consistency, factor structure, and correlations between self-reports and clinician assessments.

Main Results:

• The NEO-PI-R demonstrated satisfactory internal consistency and factor structure in the ASD group.
• Correlations between self-reported personality traits and clinician ratings were as predicted.
• Significant differences in personality profiles were observed between the ASD group and controls, aligning with expectations.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the use of self-reported measures, specifically the NEO-PI-R, for assessing personality in adults with ASD.
• Self-report data can be considered reliable and valid in this population.
• This validates the utility of the NEO-PI-R in clinical and research settings involving adults with autism spectrum disorder.