Mesurer la solitude chez les adultes autistes : une approche collaborative pour affiner l'échelle de solitude de l'UCLA

Titre original en anglais : Measuring Loneliness in Autistic Adults: A Collaborative Approach to Refining the UCLA Loneliness Scale

Love, A. M., Edwards, C., Dueber, D., Cai, R. Y., Grace, K., Toland, M. D., Lim, M. H., & Gibbs, V. (2025). Measuring Loneliness in Autistic Adults: A Collaborative Approach to Refining the UCLA Loneliness Scale. Autism in Adulthood, 8(3), 329-344. https://doi.org/10.1089/aut.2024.0258

Date de publication: 10/03/2025 Ajout dans AutiHub: 05/07/2026 Type: Article Langue de l’article: Anglais

Cette publication est intégrée dans AutiHub via :

Auteurs

Auteur·ices des publications
8
Auteur·ices de la publication identifié·es comme autistes
1 / 8 (12,5 %)

Résumé

Contexte : La solitude constitue un risque important, mais insuffisamment étudié, pour la santé des personnes autistes. Il est important que les mesures de la solitude soient valides pour une utilisation auprès des adultes autistes et non autistes. Cette étude visait à (1) adapter l'échelle de solitude de l'UCLA pour les adultes autistes, (2) fournir des preuves fondées sur le contenu du test pour l'échelle adaptée, (3) fournir des preuves psychométriques à l'aide d'un échantillon international, (4) examiner le fonctionnement différentiel des items (DIF) entre les adultes autistes et non autistes, et (5) évaluer les preuves convergentes et discriminantes avec d'autres variables de solitude et de bien-être. Méthodes : Afin d'étayer le contenu du test, nous avons examiné de manière approfondie les items de l'échelle de solitude de l'UCLA en partenariat avec des personnes autistes. Comme l'échelle était déjà conçue pour des personnes non autistes, nous avons apporté des adaptations afin de garantir l'existence de preuves de son utilisation auprès de personnes autistes. Ce processus comprenait des entretiens cognitifs (n = 10) et des évaluations d'experts (n = 13). Après la phase d'adaptation, nous avons recueilli des données (N = 628) afin de démontrer un certain degré de preuves psychométriques en utilisant la théorie de réponse aux items pour évaluer les propriétés psychométriques, y compris le DIF fondé sur l'autisme. Nous avons utilisé une modélisation par variables latentes pour évaluer les preuves convergentes et discriminantes. Résultats : L'échelle de solitude de l'UCLA — modifiée (UCLA-m) a résulté de la phase d'adaptation et a été utilisée pour interroger 628 adultes. Nous avons constaté que l'UCLA-m présente des preuves suffisantes pour être essentiellement unidimensionnelle, les scores totaux démontrant des preuves préliminaires d'une fiabilité élevée, d'une validité interne et de preuves convergentes. Les adultes autistes de notre étude ont rapporté des niveaux plus élevés de solitude, d'anxiété sociale et de dépression que les adultes non autistes. Conclusion : Les preuves issues de cette étude constituent un précurseur pour l'étude de la solitude chez les adultes autistes et fournissent des preuves concernant la validité d'un outil de mesure qui permettra d'approfondir les recherches visant à mieux soutenir les adultes autistes qui éprouvent de la solitude. En outre, un grand nombre des adaptations apportées au cours de ce processus augmenteront l'accessibilité globale de l'UCLA-m pour toutes les personnes, et pas seulement pour les adultes autistes.

Background: Loneliness is a significant yet under-investigated health risk for Autistic individuals. It is important that loneliness measures are valid for use among both Autistic and non-autistic adults. This study aimed to (1) adapt the UCLA Loneliness Scale for Autistic adults, (2) provide evidence based on test content for the adapted scale, (3) provide psychometric evidence using an international sample, (4) investigate differential item functioning (DIF) between Autistic and non-autistic adults, and (5) assess convergent and discriminant evidence with other loneliness and well-being variables. Methods: To build evidence for test content, we thoroughly examined the UCLA Loneliness Scale items in partnership with Autistic individuals. As the scale was already designed for non-autistic people, we made adaptations to ensure there was evidence for use with Autistic people. This process included cognitive interviews ( n = 10) and expert reviews ( n = 13). Following the adaptation phase, we gathered data ( N = 628) to demonstrate a degree of psychometric evidence using item response theory to assess psychometric properties, including autistic-based DIF. We used latent variable modeling to assess convergent and discriminant evidence. Results: The UCLA Loneliness Scale—Modified (UCLA-m) resulted from the adaptation phase and was used to survey 628 adults. We found UCLA-m has sufficient evidence for being essentially unidimensional, with total scores demonstrating preliminary evidence of high reliability, internal validity, and convergent evidence. Autistic adults in our study reported higher levels of loneliness, social anxiety, and depression compared with non-autistic adults. Conclusion: The evidence from this study serves as a precursor for studying loneliness in Autistic adults and provides evidence about the validity of a measurement tool that will enable further research into better supporting Autistic adults who are experiencing loneliness. Additionally, many of the adaptations made during this process will increase the overall accessibility of the UCLA-m for all individuals, not just Autistic adults.

Bibliographie citée par cette référence

Les références citées sont importées depuis des sources externes de métadonnées lorsqu’elles sont disponibles. La liste peut être partielle.

Vue d’ensemble de l’inclusion dans la bibliographie

Ces indicateurs décrivent la bibliographie citée importée pour cette publication. Les métriques de références citées utilisent le total des références citées comme dénominateur. Les métriques d’auteurices cité·es indiquent si elles utilisent toutes les occurrences d’auteurices cité·es ou seulement les occurrences rattachées à des auteurices déjà intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub. Ils utilisent les rattachements mis en cache entre les auteurices cité·es et les auteurices intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub. Dernier calcul : 16/08/2026 11:30.

Références citées
64
Nombre total de références citées intégrées pour cette publication.
Références citées avec un·e auteur·ice identifié·e comme autiste
7 / 64 (10,9 %)
Occurrences d’auteur·ices cité·es identifié·es comme autistes
16 / 252 (6,3 %)
Parmi les occurrences rattachées à des auteurices intégré·es à la base de données AutiHub : 16 / 92 (17,4 %). Auteurices cité·es distinct·es identifié·es comme autistes : 12 / 222 (5,4 %).
Occurrences citées rattachées à la base AutiHub
92 / 252 (36,5 %)
Auteurices cité·es distinct·es rattaché·es : 70 / 222 (31,5 %)
Occurrences rattachées, non identifiées comme autistes
76 / 92 (82,6 %)
Parmi les seules occurrences rattachées. Sur l’ensemble des occurrences d’auteurices cité·es : 76 / 252 (30,2 %). Auteurices cité·es distinct·es rattaché·es, non identifié·es comme autistes : 58 / 70 (82,9 %).
2 entrées de bibliographie citée n’ont pas pu être entièrement enrichies à partir des métadonnées DOI.
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