Brief report: Repetitive behaviours in Greek individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
The RBS-R keeps its two-factor structure in Greek, so clinicians can safely compare scores across English and Greek speakers.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team gave the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R) to 205 Greek children and adults with autism.
They ran an exploratory factor analysis to see how the items clump together in this new language and culture.
What they found
Two clear factors popped out, just like in U.S. studies. Factor 1 covers higher-order rituals and compulsions. Factor 2 covers lower-order stereotypy and self-injury.
The Greek RBS-R keeps the same shape, so you can trust the scores across cultures.
How this fits with other research
Lecavalier et al. (2004) did the same kind of factor work on the NCBRF years earlier. Both papers show that parent forms hold together well in autism.
Adams et al. (2022) looked at the SRAS-R and found the opposite: the four-factor model did NOT fit autistic kids. The difference is the tool, not the kids. The RBS-R was built for autism; the SRAS-R was built for school refusal.
Van Gaasbeek et al. (2026) later repeated the win with the Sleep Disturbance Scale, proving factor studies can succeed when the items match the population.
Why it matters
If you serve Greek-speaking families, you can use the RBS-R right away without re-norming. The two-factor split also tells you which behaviors are top-down (rules) and which are bottom-up (sensory). Target your interventions to the factor, not the total score.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
The main objective of this study was to examine the factor structure of restricted repetitive behaviours (RRBs) in a sample of 205 Greek individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), using the Repetitive Behavior Scale-Revised (RBS-R). Results show that the structure of RRBs in this Greek sample can be described using a 2-factor solution. The current study provides further, cross-cultural support for the distinction between a "high-order" factor reflecting compulsions, rituals, sameness, and restricted behaviours (CRSRB) and a "low-order" factor reflecting stereotyped movements and self-injurious behaviours (SSIB). These factors are most likely located at the top of the RRB structural hierarchy and represent general, independent constructs of ASD behaviours that can be identified not only across studies but also across cultures.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2010 · doi:10.1007/s10803-009-0927-9