title: Feasibility and validity of ecological momentary assessment in adolescents with high-functioning autism and Asperger's disorder.
abstract: Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) may increase accuracy of data compared with retrospective questionnaires by assessing behaviours as they occur, hence decreasing recall biases and increasing ecological validity. This study examined the feasibility and concurrent validity of an EMA tool for adolescents with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders (HFASD). Thirty-one adolescents with HFASD completed a mobile phone EMA application that assessed stressors and coping for two weeks. Parents and adolescents also completed retrospective measures of the adolescent's coping/stressors. Moderate compliance with the EMA tool was achieved and some concurrent validity was established with the retrospective measure of coping. Concordance was found between the types of stressors reported by parents and adolescents but not the quantity. The results suggest adolescents with HFASD are capable of reporting on their stressors and coping via EMA. EMA has the potential to be a valuable research tool in this population.
authors: Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology & Psychiatry, Monash University, Australia. Electronic address: Angela.khor@gmail.com.
authors: Angela S
authors: AS
authors: Khor
authors: Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology & Psychiatry, Monash University, Australia. Electronic address: Kylie.gray@monash.edu.
authors: Kylie M
authors: KM
authors: Gray
authors: Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia. Electronic address: Sophie.reid@mcri.edu.au.
authors: Sophie C
authors: SC
authors: Reid
authors: Centre for Developmental Psychiatry and Psychology, School of Psychology & Psychiatry, Monash University, Australia. Electronic address: Glenn.melvin@monash.edu.
authors: Glenn A
authors: GA
authors: Melvin
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D040421:Cell Phone; D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D011581:Psychological Tests; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Autism spectrum disorder; EMA; Ecological momentary assessment; HFASD; RSQ; SCQ; WAIS-IV; WISC-IV; Wechsler adult intelligence scale – fourth edition; Wechsler intelligence scale for children – fourth edition; ecological momentary assessment; high-functioning autism spectrum disorders; responses to stress questionnaire; social communication questionnaire