Health-Related Quality of Life and Cognitive Functioning from the Perspective of Parents of School-Aged Children with Asperger’s Syndrome Utilizing the PedsQL™

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.