title: Psychometric properties of the Mandarin version of the Childhood Autism Spectrum Test (CAST): an exploratory study.
abstract: Limited studies have investigated the latent autistic traits in the mainland Chinese population for autism spectrum conditions (ASC). This study explored the psychometric properties of a Mandarin Chinese version of the CAST in a sample consisting of 737 children in mainstream schools and 50 autistic cases. A combination of categorical data factor analysis and item response theory suggested a good-fit model of a two-factor solution for 28 items on the Mandarin CAST including social and communication, and inflexible/stereotyped language and behaviours (Goodness-of-fit indices: RMSEA = 0.029, CFI = 0.957, TLI = 0.950, SRMR = 0.064). The correlation between the two factors was moderate (GFC = 0.425). This study provided evidence for the CAST as a multidimensional measure for ASC screening in a Chinese population and also showed that the symptom manifestation of ASC in Chinese children shares similarity with western populations.
authors: Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK, xs227@medschl.cam.ac.uk.
authors: Xiang
authors: X
authors: Sun
authors: Carrie
authors: C
authors: Allison
authors: Bonnie
authors: B
authors: Auyeung
authors: Fiona E
authors: FE
authors: Matthews
authors: Samuel
authors: S
authors: Norton
authors: Simon
authors: S
authors: Baron-Cohen
authors: Carol
authors: C
authors: Brayne
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012574:Schools; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires