To preliminarily assess the psychometric properties of the Symptoms of Autistic Depression—Parent (SAD-P) scale, emphasizing the need for autism-sensitive assessment tools.
Key Findings:
EFA suggested a 1-factor model for the SAD-P, supported by separate analyses for both groups, indicating a robust structure.
SAD-P showed acceptable convergent validity (r = .65) with the CBCL Depression subscale, reinforcing its relevance.
SAD-P demonstrated good discriminant validity (r = .42) with the Conduct Problems subscale, confirming its specificity.
Interpretation:
The SAD-P shows promise as a preliminary measure of depressive symptoms in both autistic and neurotypical youth, highlighting the need for further validation to enhance its applicability.
Limitations:
Study is preliminary and requires further validation to confirm findings.
Sample size may limit generalizability, suggesting the need for larger studies.
Potential biases in parent-reported data could affect the accuracy of the results.
Conclusion:
The SAD-P is a promising tool for assessing depressive symptoms in autistic youth, addressing the need for autism-sensitive assessment measures, and underscoring the importance of further validation.
