French Validation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q).
The French CAT-Q is a reliable new screener for camouflaging in French-speaking autistic adults.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Bureau et al. (2024) translated the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire into French. They checked if the new version still measures the same three hiding behaviors seen in the English form.
Adults with and without autism filled out the survey. The team ran stats to see if scores were steady and if the questions still grouped into the same three factors.
What they found
The French CAT-Q kept its three-part structure and showed good internal consistency. Autistic adults scored higher on camouflaging than non-autistic adults, just like in English studies.
The tool also lined up with related measures, showing it taps the right ideas. Still, the fit between autistic and non-autistic groups was not perfect, so compare scores with care.
How this fits with other research
Liu et al. (2024) did the same job in Taiwan with teens and got similar positive results. Both studies extend the CAT-Q into new languages and age bands, giving you more options.
Arnold et al. (2026) looked at 389 papers and warned that the CAT-Q may mix camouflaging with plain social anxiety. Their big-picture critique sits inside the same literature Raven joins, so treat any score as a flag, not a verdict.
Gandhi et al. (2022) used the English CAT-Q to show that adult-diagnosed females and gender-diverse clients mask the most. Raven’s French tool now lets you screen these same high-risk groups in French-speaking services.
Why it matters
You now have a free, ready-to-use French scale that spots masking in adults. Use it during intake to flag clients who might be exhausted from hiding traits. Pair scores with interviews, not labels, and remember the measure works less well if the client also has social anxiety or intellectual disability.
Get CEUs on This Topic — Free
The ABA Clubhouse has 60+ on-demand CEUs including ethics, supervision, and clinical topics like this one. Plus a new live CEU every Wednesday.
Add the French CAT-Q to your intake packet and review high scores for possible burnout supports.
02At a glance
03Original abstract
PURPOSE: Autistic camouflaging is a collection of strategies used to hide autistic characteristics. It can have serious consequences on autistic people's mental health and needs to be addressed and measured in clinical practice. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties of the French adaptation of the Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire. METHODS: 1227 participants (744 autistic, 483 non-autistic) answered the French version of the CAT-Q in an online survey or on paper. Confirmatory factor analysis, measurement invariance testing, internal consistency analysis (McDonald's ω), and convergent validity with the DASS-21 depression subscale were conducted. Test-rest reliability was assessed on a sample of 22 autistic volunteers using intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: A good fit was found for the original three-factor structure as well as a good internal consistency, excellent test-retest reliability and highly significant convergent validity. Measurement invariance testing indicates however that the meaning behind items is different for autistic vs. non-autistic people. CONCLUSION: The French version of the CAT-Q can be used in clinical settings to assess camouflaging behaviors and intent to camouflage. Further research is needed to clarify the camouflage construct and whether reported measurement noninvariance are due to cultural differences or a true difference in what camouflaging might mean for non-autistic people.
Journal of autism and developmental disorders, 2024 · doi:10.1016/j.fjpsy.2019.10.380