Empathy/Systemising Quotient for Children (EQ/SQ)

Author of Tool: 

Auyeung, B. Wheelwright, S. Allison, C. Atkinson, M. Samarawickrema, N. Baron-Cohen, S.

Key references: 

Auyeung, B. Wheelwright, S. Allison, C. Atkinson, M. Samarawickrema, N. Baron-Cohen, S. (2009). The Children’s Empathy Quotient and Systemizing Quotient: Sex Differences in Typical Development and in Autism Spectrum Conditions. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 39 (11), 1509-1521

Primary use / Purpose: 

The EQ/SQ is a 55 likert-type item parent-report questionnaire measuring a child’s tendency towards both empathising and systemising. These are two important constructs in both gender differences and autism spectrum/normality differences.

Background: 

The adult EQ and SQ measures were adapted for use with children, and combined into one Empathy/Systemising Quotient (EQ/SQ) for children. As with adults, empathising is higher in female children, systemising is higher in male children, and empathising and systemising are negatively correlated. This combined measure has shown individual brain “types” are present from an early age, and can also be used as a measure of autistic tendencies.

Psychometrics: 

Reliability is confirmed in Auyeung, B. Wheelwright, S. Allison, C. Atkinson, M. Samarawickrema, N. and Baron-Cohen, S. (2009).

Keywords: 

• Anxiety
• Family

Web link to tool: 

Child EQ/SQ

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): 

https://dx.doi.org/10.13072/midss.185