Assessing Anxiety in Autistic and Non‐Autistic Youth: Validation of the German Parent Version of the Anxiety Scale for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

Anxiety is a prevalent co‐occurring disorder in autistic youth, yet its accurate assessment remains challenging due to symptom overlap with autism. The Anxiety Scale for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder—Parent Version (ASC‐ASD‐P) was designed to address this issue, but its utility in German clinical settings has not been established. This study validated the German translation of the ASC‐ASD‐P in a clinical sample of 317 participants presenting at a clinic for autism assessment, including 120 autistic youth. Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach's α = 0.92), and convergent validity was demonstrated through significant correlations with established psychopathology measures such as the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL) and Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Factor analyses preferred a 4‐factor structure in the autism group, but indicated difficulties replicating the Separation Anxiety Subscale. Autistic youth showed higher total anxiety and uncertainty scores compared to non‐autistic youth, underlining the scale's sensitivity to autism‐specific anxiety patterns. By including youth with intellectual disabilities, often underrepresented in research, this study provides a more comprehensive evaluation of the ASC‐ASD‐P's applicability across the autism spectrum. These findings support the ASC‐ASD‐P as a reliable tool for assessing anxiety in German‐speaking autistic youth while highlighting areas where refinement could strengthen its utility.