Journal article
Linguistic and Cultural Adaptation of the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Autism Spectrum Conditions: A Suicide Risk Assessment Tool for Autistic Adults in Spanish
Autism in adulthood
17 Mar 2026
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Background: Autistic individuals face significantly elevated risk for suicidality, yet existing suicide risk assessment tools often lack cultural and linguistic validity-particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and where English is not the primary language. The Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Autism Spectrum Conditions (SBQ-ASC) is a validated instrument developed in English for autistic adults without intellectual disability. However, the lack of availability of this instrument in other languages limits its clinical and research applicability worldwide. This study reports the foundational phase of a translational research program: the linguistic and cultural adaptation of the SBQ-ASC into Spanish, intended for eventual psychometric validation studies across Latin America. Methods: Adaptation followed the International Test Commission Guidelines and the Ecological Validity Framework, using a seven-country participatory process involving autistic adults, clinicians, and bilingual researchers, with integrated expert judgment on sufficiency, clarity, coherence, and relevance. Results: The final Spanish version demonstrates conceptual, functional, and linguistic equivalence, and the original developer of SBQ-ASC approved it for research use. Clinicians can integrate it into primary care, community clinics, and telehealth platforms in under-resourced settings. This tool addresses a critical equity gap in mental health screening for autistic adults in LMICs and supports early identification of suicide risk in a population often overlooked in prevention efforts. Conclusion: This tool provides a necessary foundation for ongoing validation studies and supports translational efforts to improve early identification and eventually suicide prevention among autistic adults in Spanish-speaking populations. It addresses a critical equity gap in mental health screening tools and advances global autism research infrastructure.
Metrics
1 Record Views
Details
- Title
- Linguistic and Cultural Adaptation of the Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire-Autism Spectrum Conditions: A Suicide Risk Assessment Tool for Autistic Adults in Spanish
- Creators
- Cecilia Montiel-Nava - The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyAlexia Rattazzi - Instituto Franco-Argentino sobre Estudios de Clima y sus ImpactosRicardo Garcia Sepulveda - University of ChileDaniel Valdez - Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias ArgentinaGabriela Garrido Candela - Universidad de la República de UruguayAnalia Rosoli Murillo - Org Estados Iberoamer Educ Ciencia & Cultura OEI, Santo Domingo, Dominican RepFederico Alzugaray - Universidad de la República de UruguayGeorgina Perez Liz - Drexel University, A.J. Drexel Autism InstituteNicole Velez Agosto - The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyMaria Cecilia Montenegro - The University of Texas Rio Grande ValleyMaria Cristina Triguero Veloz Teixeira - Universidade Presbiteriana MackenzieCristiane Silvestre Paula - Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie
- Publication Details
- Autism in adulthood
- Publisher
- Sage
- Number of pages
- 13
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001716596300001
- Other Identifier
- 991022171246404721
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:
Source: SDGs in the Output
InCites Highlights
Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Developmental
- Rehabilitation