Preliminary Psychometric Properties of the Italian Version of the Assessment Questionnaire ( AQ ‐I)

Background Psychological assessment is not only a diagnostic procedure but also a clinical process that can influence clients' self‐understanding and their subsequent engagement in treatment. Despite this potential, validated instruments assessing clients' subjective experiences during psychological assessment remain scarce. Objective We evaluated the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Assessment Questionnaire (AQ‐I), a measure originally designed to capture clients' experiential and relational responses to psychological assessment. Method In Study 1 ( N = 246), adults who had undergone a psychological assessment completed the Italian translation of the original AQ along with measures of satisfaction, usefulness and assessment‐related experiences. Confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses were conducted to evaluate factorial structure and reliability, and construct validity was examined through associations with assessment‐related variables. Study 2 ( N = 124) examined the structural replicability of the resulting four‐factor structure of the AQ‐I using a simulated assessment design and further tested construct validity. Results The AQ‐I demonstrated strong internal consistency (ω = 0.86–0.91) and a four‐factor structure reflecting New Self‐Awareness/Understanding, Self‐Enhancement, Positive Relationship with the Assessor and Feeling Hurt by the Assessment. AQ‐I scores showed moderate to strong associations with the help received, perceived usefulness, satisfaction with the information received and overall satisfaction with the assessment. Participants assessed in private settings or by a single professional reported more positive experiences than those assessed in public services or by multiple assessors, and participants assigned to warm, accurate and empathic assessments reported higher scores on the AQ‐I than those of less collaborative assessments. Conclusions Findings provide initial support for the AQ‐I as a reliable and valid measure for assessing clients' experiences of psychological assessment, representing a promising tool for future research on therapeutic mechanisms and assessment‐based interventions.