Abstract

Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) have sensory processing problems, and this has recently been included as a core symptom of ASD in DSM-5. The Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire (GSQ), which is based on a dimensional model of ASD, measures the experience of sensory difficulties in daily life. However, the psychometric properties of the GSQ have not been studied in the general population. In this study, we investigated the psychometric properties of the GSQ, including reliability, score distribution, item analysis, gender differences, and the correlation between the Autism Quotient (AQ) and GSQ in a sample of 417 (206 males and 211 females) university students. We also examined the overlap between the AQ and GSQ using a joint factor analysis. The results revealed that the Japanese version of the GSQ has relatively poor psychometric properties compared to the AQ. Gender differences were found in both scales. Individuals with high AQ scores reported experiencing abnormal sensory events more frequently than those with low AQ scores. The overlap between the scales was small; therefore, it might be possible to investigate abnormal sensory processing independently of other symptoms of ASD in the general population.

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