Cultural adaptation and validation of the Suicidal Behaviours Questionnaire – Autism Spectrum Conditions (SBQ-ASC) for use in Brazil

Abstract

Background Suicide risk among autistic individuals is a growing global concern, yet culturally adapted and validated assessment tools are scarce in most low- and middle-income countries, including South America.Objectives To translate, culturally adapt, and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire – Autism Spectrum Conditions (SBQ-ASC) for Brazilian Portuguese, focusing on young autistic adults.Methods The adaptation process followed five stages: (1) independent translation by two bilingual experts; (2) synthesis of a unified version by a panel of evaluators; (3) expert validation to ensure conceptual and cultural alignment; (4) cognitive debriefing with autistic individuals (n = 10, aged 20–30) to assess clarity and relevance; and (5) back-translation by a bilingual expert to confirm equivalence.Results The Brazilian SBQ-ASC showed strong semantic equivalence to the original version, requiring only minor linguistic adjustments. Participant feedback confirmed its clarity, cultural appropriateness, and ease of understanding. The final version was reviewed and approved by the original SBQ-ASC author.Conclusion The adaptation process highlights the importance of culturally tailored tools for suicide risk assessment. The Brazilian SBQ-ASC provides a reliable, valid, and contextually appropriate measure for evaluating suicidality among young autistic adults in Brazil.

The authors' abstract, as published at the source. International Journal of Developmental Disabilities, 2026 · DOI ↗