A cross-cultural comparison of autistic traits in the UK, India and Malaysia.

Freeth et al. (2013) gave the Autism-Spectrum Quotient to university students in the UK, India, and Malaysia.

The survey asked about social skills, attention switching, and sensory habits.

All students were neurotypical; the goal was to see if culture changes the score pattern.

Students in India and Malaysia scored higher on the AQ than students in the UK.

Some sub-scales, like attention to detail, showed even bigger cultural gaps.

Higher scores do not mean more autism; they simply show different cultural norms.

Sapey-Triomphe et al. (2018) later linked high AQ scores to strong sensory issues in French autistic adults, proving the AQ still works outside the UK.

Obeid et al. (2015) found that a short online class cut autism stigma among college students in both Lebanon and the US, hinting that knowledge, not just culture, shapes AQ views.

Brown et al. (2009) used the same survey style to show that occupational-therapy students in Taiwan and the UK differ in disability attitudes, backing the idea that East-West gaps are common.

If you give the AQ to clients or parents from Eastern backgrounds, expect higher scores before any intervention.

Use the same cut-off for clinical decisions, but add a cultural footnote in your report.

When you train staff, show them this study so they do not over-label students who simply follow cultural norms like politeness or attention to detail.