Assessing Social Identity in Autistic Individuals: Evaluating a Self-Report Questionnaire in the Netherlands
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| Title: | Assessing Social Identity in Autistic Individuals: Evaluating a Self-Report Questionnaire in the Netherlands |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Lisa J. G. Krijnen (ORCID |
| Source: | Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice. 2026 30(5):1317-1329. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 13 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Autism Spectrum Disorders, Mental Health, Individual Characteristics, Symptoms (Individual Disorders), Self Concept, Age Differences, Gender Differences, Educational Attainment, Ethnicity, Foreign Countries, Employment Level, Anxiety, Depression (Psychology) |
| Geographic Terms: | Netherlands |
| Assessment and Survey Identifiers: | Autism Spectrum Quotient |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613261431269 |
| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| Abstract: | People with autism often face mental health difficulties at rates far exceeding those of the general population. How autistic individuals relate to their autism classification and the autistic community, also known as social identity, may form a protective factor for mental health. However, validated tools to assess social identity in autistic populations are lacking. This study aims to evaluate the Dutch version of the 14-item Social Identity in Autism Questionnaire (SIAQ) and examine associations between social identity and demographic, autism-related, and mental health variables. A total of 1443 autistic individuals from the Netherlands (mean age = 47 years, 54% women, 98% Dutch) completed the SIAQ and measures assessing demographics, autism characteristics, and mental health. Factor analyses revealed a four-factor structure: solidarity (three items, feelings of connection to people with autism), satisfaction (four items, positive feelings about being autistic), centrality (three items, the importance of autism to one's sense of self), and self-definition (four items, perceived similarity to other autistic people and within the autistic community). Internal consistency was acceptable to excellent. Measurement invariance (scalar level) was found across age, gender, education level, ethnicity, and autism traits. Furthermore, the four factors of social identity were differentially related to age, gender, language preference, time since diagnosis, and autism traits. Higher satisfaction and lower centrality were related to better mental health. To conclude, the SIAQ forms a robust tool to assess social identity in autistic individuals in the Netherlands. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Notes: | https://osf.io/34rbp/overview?view_only=e5bff52f747d4b7aa67df3a18c5c0275 |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1503255 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | People with autism often face mental health difficulties at rates far exceeding those of the general population. How autistic individuals relate to their autism classification and the autistic community, also known as social identity, may form a protective factor for mental health. However, validated tools to assess social identity in autistic populations are lacking. This study aims to evaluate the Dutch version of the 14-item Social Identity in Autism Questionnaire (SIAQ) and examine associations between social identity and demographic, autism-related, and mental health variables. A total of 1443 autistic individuals from the Netherlands (mean age = 47 years, 54% women, 98% Dutch) completed the SIAQ and measures assessing demographics, autism characteristics, and mental health. Factor analyses revealed a four-factor structure: solidarity (three items, feelings of connection to people with autism), satisfaction (four items, positive feelings about being autistic), centrality (three items, the importance of autism to one's sense of self), and self-definition (four items, perceived similarity to other autistic people and within the autistic community). Internal consistency was acceptable to excellent. Measurement invariance (scalar level) was found across age, gender, education level, ethnicity, and autism traits. Furthermore, the four factors of social identity were differentially related to age, gender, language preference, time since diagnosis, and autism traits. Higher satisfaction and lower centrality were related to better mental health. To conclude, the SIAQ forms a robust tool to assess social identity in autistic individuals in the Netherlands. |
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| ISSN: | 1362-3613 1461-7005 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/13623613261431269 |
