HRQOL as a multidimensional construct has not been previously investigated in children with Asperger’s Syndrome. The objective
of the present study was to examine the initial feasibility, reliability, and validity of the PedsQL™ 4.0 Generic Core Scales
and PedsQL™ Cognitive Functioning Scale parent proxy-report versions in school-aged children with Asperger’s Syndrome. The
PedsQL™ evidenced no missing responses (0.0%), achieved excellent reliability for the Generic Core Total Scale score (
α = 0.82) and Cognitive Functioning Scale (
α = 0.92), distinguished between children with Asperger’s Syndrome and a matched sample of healthy children, and was related
to similar constructs on the Asperger Syndrome Diagnostic Scale. The results demonstrate the initial measurement properties
of the PedsQL™ in school-aged children with Asperger’s Syndrome.
Keywords Asperger’s Syndrome - PedsQL™ - Health-related quality of life - Cognitive functioning
Dr. Varni holds the copyright and the trademark for the PedsQL™ and receives financial compensation from the Mapi Research
Trust, which is a nonprofit research institute that charges distribution fees to for-profit companies that use the Pediatric
Quality of Life Inventory™.
The PedsQL™ is available at http://www.pedsql.org.