Objectives: Accurate assessment of anxiety symptoms in children
diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can be challenging
due to the lack of appropriate assessment tools. This study aimed to
adapt the Anxiety Scale for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder-
Parent Version into Turkish (referred to as ASC-ASD-P-TR) to enable
parents to assess anxiety in children with ASD.
Methods: This methodological study was conducted between October
2023 and March 2024 with parents of children diagnosed with ASD
aged 8-15 years. 371 parents participated in the study. Data were
collected online. Content validity, construct validity, internal reliability
and split-half reliability. were examined.
Results: The construct of the ASC-ASD-P-TR, which consists of four
dimensions (Performance, Separation, Arousal, and Uncertainty) and
24 items, was validated in Turkish. The scale has a score range between
24 and 96, and an increase in score means an increase in anxiety. The
total variance explained by the scale is 61%. Cronbach’s alpha reliability
coefficient for the overall scale is 0.94. In the sub-dimensions of the
scale, Cronbach’s alpha value was between 0.66 and 0.80.
Conclusion: The ASC-ASD-P-TR is a valid and reliable measurement
tool for assessing anxiety in children with ASD in Turkiye.
Keywords: Anxiety, autism spectrum disorder, parent report, reliability,
validity