Re: Caron et al., 2021, sociocultural context and autistics quality of life: A comparison between Quebec and France.
Always pair the ASQoL with WHOQOL instruments—never use it alone when measuring quality of life in autistic adults.
01Research in Context
What this study did
Rodgers (2022) wrote a short letter to the editor. The letter warned researchers not to rely on the Autism-Specific Quality of Life scale (ASQoL) alone.
The author wants teams to pair the ASQoL with the WHOQOL-BREF and WHO Disabilities module.
This is a follow-up to an earlier 2021 letter by the same writer.
What they found
The paper does not present new data. It repeats a caution: single-scale QOL scores can mislead.
Using only the ASQoL may miss parts of life that matter to autistic adults.
How this fits with other research
Rodgers (2021) made the same point first. The 2022 letter sharpens the warning, so the pair shows a predecessor–successor thread.
Simões et al. (2015) tested two QOL tools in adults with intellectual disability. They found different scores from each scale, proving one tool cannot stand in for another.
Nevin et al. (2005) reviewed QOL principles and urged clinicians to ask “who, what, when, where, why, how” before picking any measure. The 2022 letter is a live example of that advice.
Hatton et al. (2005) showed QOL items change meaning across cultures. Rodgers (2022) echoes this by stressing that Quebec and French samples need both ASQoL and WHO tools to capture culture-bound views.
Why it matters
If you assess quality of life for autistic adults, add the WHOQOL-BREF and WHO Disabilities module to your battery. One score is not enough. Pairing tools gives a fuller picture and guards against cultural or construct blind spots.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
This letter to the editors discusses the use of the ASQoL for research with autistic adults. The autism quality of life measure was developed for use alongside two existing measures of quality of life developed by the World Health Organization. It was not developed as a questionnaire to be used in its own. The letter raises some concerns about the use of the autism quality of life measure as a standalone measure in a recent study by Caron et al., published in Autism.
Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 2022 · doi:10.1177/13623613211051831