Pretending to Be Normal: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Validation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire in Iran
Karim Abdolmohamadi, Asgar Alimohamadi, Laura HullCamouflaging of autistic traits has gained increasing attention as a psychological construct capturing strategies used to conceal or compensate for autistic characteristics in social contexts. Given the cultural specificity of social behavior, the adaptation and validation of measurement instruments across diverse populations are essential. The present study aimed to culturally adapt and validate the Persian version of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) and to examine its measurement invariance and group differences between adults with high and low autistic traits in Iran. Following a standardized forward–backward translation procedure and expert panel review, the Persian CAT-Q was administered to 1,100 individuals, of whom 948 (aged 15–50 years) met the inclusion criteria after data screening. Construct validity was examined using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Convergent validity was assessed through correlations with the social camouflage subscale of the Comprehensive Autistic Trait Inventory (CATI), and reliability was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha and mean inter-item correlations. CFA supported the original three-factor structure of the CAT-Q (compensation, masking, and assimilation) with acceptable fit indices (Comparative Fit Index [CFI] = 0.91, Root Mean Square Error of Approximation [RMSEA] = 0.06). Measurement invariance testing supported configural, metric, and scalar invariance across high and low autistic traits groups, indicating comparable measurement properties. Convergent validity was confirmed through significant correlations with the social camouflage subscale of the CATI. Internal consistency was strong, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients ranging from .66 to .89 across subscales and .89 for the total scale, although the assimilation subscale showed comparatively lower reliability. The Persian version of the CAT-Q demonstrates satisfactory psychometric properties and measurement equivalence across groups, supporting its use in research contexts within Iran. Findings should be interpreted with attention to cultural context and the relatively lower reliability of the assimilation subscale.
Lay Abstract
Many autistic people use “camouflaging” to cope in social situations. Camouflaging means trying to hide autistic traits or to compensate for social difficulties so that others will not notice differences. These efforts may help someone blend in, but they can also be tiring and may affect wellbeing. Because social rules and expectations differ across cultures, researchers and clinicians need tools that are carefully adapted for each language and society. This study adapted the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) into Persian and examined whether it works well for adults in Iran. The questionnaire was translated using a standard forward–backward process, reviewed by specialists for clarity and cultural suitability, and then tested in a large Iranian sample recruited online. We examined whether the Persian CAT-Q keeps the same three parts found in earlier research: (1) compensation (actively managing social situations), (2) masking (hiding autistic traits), and (3) assimilation (trying to fit in by suppressing one’s natural style). We also tested whether the questionnaire measures camouflaging in the same way for people with higher versus lower levels of autistic traits, so that comparisons between these groups are fair. Overall, results showed that the Persian CAT-Q is a useful and consistent measure of camouflaging in Iranian adults. The “Assimilation” part was somewhat less consistent than the other parts, so it should be interpreted with extra care. This Persian version can support future research and may help improve understanding of hidden social effort and support needs in Iran.