Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36424824›Full record

SynthesisAutism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research2023

A comparison of methods for measuring camouflaging in autism.

Benjamin Hannon, William Mandy, Laura Hull

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 24 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
24citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

24 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Autistic Traits and Camouflaging: A Meta-Analysis.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. A comparison of methods for measuring camouflaging in autism.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2023
    Pooled it
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Untangling Sex and Gender Differences in Impression Management and Associated Autism Features in French Autistic Adults.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2026
    Article
  7. Camouflaging and autism: Conceptualisation and methodological issues.Autism : the international journal of research and practice · 2026
    Review
  8. Article
  9. Does Camouflaging Predict Functioning, Distress, and Quality of Life for Autistic Adults?Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2026
    Article
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Does Camouflaging Cause Reduced Quality of Life? A Co-Twin Control Study.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2026
    Article
  13. Article
  14. Article
  15. Article
  16. Article
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Article
  20. What We Know and Do Not Know About Camouflaging, Impression Management, and Mental Health and Wellbeing in Autistic People.Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research · 2025
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Benjamin HannonCambridgeshire & Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
William MandyDepartment of Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-3564-5808
Laura HullDepartment of Clinical, Educational & Health Psychology, University College London, London, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8289-2158

Funding

AutisticaDunhill Medical TrustElizabeth Blackwell InstituteEuropean Research CouncilHealth Education EnglandMedical Research CouncilNational Institute for Health ResearchRosetrees TrustUniversity of BristolWellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Interest in social camouflaging has led to a multiplicity of measurement methods of uncertain validity. This two-part investigation first used a systematic review ("Study 1") to identify and appraise methods used to quantify camouflaging of autistic traits, using the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Status Measurement Instruments checklist. A total of 16 distinct measurement tools were identified; all are in the preliminary phases of psychometric evaluation. The systematic review highlighted: (1) the need for parent-report tools which specifically measure camouflaging; and (2) a lack of studies looking at associations between different methods of camouflaging, which limits understanding of their validity. "Study 2" aimed to begin to address these gaps in knowledge. We created a parent-report version of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) and evaluated its concurrent validity in autistic young people by examining associations with the self-report CAT-Q and a discrepancy measure. Discriminant validity was investigated by comparing all three methods of measuring camouflaging to a measure of social skills, to test whether they assess a construct distinct from social ability. The self- and parent-report CAT-Q were significantly related (r = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.24-0.65), and were related weakly (r = 0.20, 95% CI = -0.06 to 0.43) and strongly (r = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.23-0.64), respectively, to the discrepancy approach. No measure was associated with social skills. Improving the psychometric properties of these methods, and introducing a novel parent-report measure, may help selection of appropriate methods in future research and integration into clinical practice.

Indexed as

Autism Spectrum DisorderAutistic DisorderHumansSelf ReportSocial SkillsSurveys and Questionnairesautismcamouflagingmeasurementquestionnairereliability and validity

Identifiers

PMID36424824
PMCPMC10099783

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.