Introduction:

Empathy contributes significantly to the development of social competence. Difficulties in social communication are common characteristics in the cognitive and behavioral profile of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Thus, the availability of instruments to assess empathy is fundamental to identifying deficits in this area.

Objective:

This study aimed to perform the cross-cultural adaptation and obtain content validity evidence for the Brazilian version of the Empathy Quotient for Adolescents (EQ).

Methods:

Different methods and techniques were employed for the NA to explore the demands described by the parents and to test the previously formulated hypothesis.

Results:

The adaptation followed these procedures: translation of the EQ into Portuguese; synthesis of the translated versions; evaluation of the synthesis by three expert judges regarding clarity and need for modifications; calculation of the Content Validity Index (CVI) for the 40 items of the EQ; and a pilot study with five parents (three mothers of adolescents without ASD and two fathers of adolescents with ASD). The judges’ analysis indicated that, out of 44 items (including four example items), 11 were classified as unacceptable (CVI<0.80). These items were adjusted to compose the second version of the instrument. Pilot study participants found the items to be understandable, except for one mother who suggested a change to item 1. Three participants proposed modifications to the response options, but these suggestions were not accepted.

Considerations:

The study resulted in the Brazilian version of the EQ with evidence of content validity. Future studies are needed to investigate other sources of validity and reliability, contributing to the evaluation of individuals with ASD.

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