Translation and Validation of the Arabic Version of the Revised Restrictive Behaviours Scale Among Iraqi Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Suggestion for Model Modification.

OBJECTIVES

Comprehensive scales should be used to better understand the patterns of restrictive and repetitive behaviours in children with autism spectrum disorder in middle and lower-income countries. This study aimed to validate an Arabic translation of the revised Repetitive Behaviours Scale.

METHODS

Parents of 258 children were interviewed in a cross-sectional study conducted at Al-Subtain Academy from December 1, 2023, to August 1, 2024. The R Language and Environment for Statistical Programing v4.4.2 was utilised for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

Following confirmatory factor analysis, the 6-factor solution was selected for further testing based on more favourable fitness indices and the 2-factor solution was selected based on an acceptable RMSEA of 0.064 and evidence of cross-cultural validity from previous validations. The 2-factor solution demonstrated better subscales' reliability, with composite coefficients of 0.801 and 0.908, and corrected item-total correlations that are more consistent with the theoretical framework for the scale. A modification for this model was suggested based on item performance and demonstrated a marginal improvement in the CFI and TLI indices.

CONCLUSION

The Arabic revised repetitive behaviours scale demonstrates a valid and reliable structure, aligning with the conceptual classification of repetitive and restrictive behaviours into repetitive sensory-motor behaviours and insistence on sameness.