Adaptación y validación española del AUT-EAT Questionnaire (AEQ)

Spanish adaptation and validation of the AUT-EAT Questionnaire (AEQ)

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to adapt and validate the Spanish version of the AUT-EAT Questionnaire (AEQ), providing a valid tool to assess eating problems in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Method: The questionnaire was administered to a sample of 347 children ASD. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to verify its structure. Additionally, the internal consistency and temporal stability of the questionnaire were assessed. Results: The results confirmed the multidimensional structure of the AEQ, demonstrating construct validity and high internal consistency. Temporal stability indicated its reliability in detecting eating behaviors in children with ASD. Conclusions: The validation of the AEQ is essential for research and treatment of children with diagnosis of ASD. The importance of early detection and intervention is highlighted, and further studies in various contexts are recommended.