Supplementary file 1_Ask autistic adolescents too: informant discrepancies and test-retest reliability in social behavior.docx

Parent reports were moderately reliable. They reported a systematic decrease in problem behavior over time; however, parents reporting higher problem behavior overall were more likely to report an increase in these behaviors over time. Using baseline data from all dyads (N = 81), we observed poor association and agreement between adolescent and parent reports in both domains.

Adolescents reported more social skills and fewer problem behaviors than did their parents; the social skills discrepancy widened as scores increased. These findings challenge the assumption that autistic adolescents are unreliable reporters of their own behavior and suggest that including their self-reports alongside parent reports may provide unique, clinically meaningful information about social functioning during adolescence.</p>