Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q)

The Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) is a psychological self-report instrument designed to assess social camouflaging behaviors commonly associated with autism spectrum traits. Camouflaging refers to conscious or unconscious strategies used to hide, mask, compensate for, or adapt autistic characteristics during social interactions.

The CAT-Q evaluates behavioral and cognitive strategies individuals may use to appear socially typical, including imitation of social behaviors, rehearsed communication patterns, monitoring facial expressions, suppressing autistic traits, and compensatory social performance.

Research has shown that autistic camouflaging may contribute to emotional exhaustion, anxiety, identity confusion, delayed diagnosis, and social stress, particularly among autistic adults who develop adaptive masking strategies over time.

The CAT-Q measures several dimensions of camouflaging behavior, including:
- Compensation
- Masking
- Assimilation
- Social Monitoring
- Behavioral Adaptation
- Social Performance Strategies

The CAT-Q is commonly used in autism research, neurodiversity studies, psychological screening, and self-exploration contexts. It is not intended to provide a formal autism diagnosis and results should be interpreted alongside broader clinical and developmental assessment.

You will be presented with a series of statements related to social interaction styles, masking behaviors, communication habits, and social coping strategies. Please respond honestly based on your typical experiences in social situations.

This assessment is intended for adolescents and adults interested in understanding social camouflaging behaviors, masking tendencies, and autistic trait compensation strategies. Participation is voluntary and responses should reflect genuine experiences.

Each item is scored using a 7-point Likert scale:

1 = Strongly Disagree
2 = Disagree
3 = Somewhat Disagree
4 = Neither Agree nor Disagree
5 = Somewhat Agree
6 = Agree
7 = Strongly Agree

Higher scores may indicate stronger tendencies toward autistic camouflaging behaviors, social masking, compensation strategies, and social adaptation efforts.

Some items are reverse scored to improve response balance and scoring accuracy.

Dimensional analysis may include:
- Compensation
- Masking
- Assimilation
- Social Monitoring
- Social Compensation
- Behavioral Camouflaging

The final report provides a percentage-based overview of social camouflaging tendencies and related behavioral patterns.

v1.0 – Initial CAT-Q module release.
v1.1 – Added dimensional scoring framework.
v1.2 – Improved reverse-scoring support.
v1.3 – Enhanced behavioral interpretation system.
v1.4 – Added responsive layout and accessibility improvements.

When I am interacting with someone, I deliberately copy their body language or facial expressions.

I monitor my body language or facial expressions so that I appear relaxed.

I rarely feel the need to put on an act in order to get through a social situation.

I have developed a script to follow in social situations.

I will repeat phrases that I have heard others say in the exact same way that I first heard them.

I adjust my body language or facial expressions so that I appear interested by the person I am interacting with.

In social situations, I feel like I’m ‘performing’ rather than being myself.

In my own social interactions, I use behaviours that I have learned from watching other people interacting.

I always think about the impression I make on other people.

I need the support of other people in order to socialise.

I practice my facial expressions and body language to make sure they look natural.

I don’t feel the need to make eye contact with other people if I don’t want to.

I have to force myself to interact with people when I am in social situations.

I have tried to improve my understanding of social skills by watching other people.

I monitor my body language or facial expressions so that I appear interested by the person I am interacting with.

When in social situations, I try to find ways to avoid interacting with others.

I have researched the rules of social interactions to improve my own social skills.

I am always aware of the impression I make on other people.

I feel free to be myself when I am with other people.

I learn how people use their bodies and faces to interact by watching television or films, or by reading fiction.

I adjust my body language or facial expressions so that I appear relaxed.

When talking to other people, I feel like the conversation flows naturally.

I have spent time learning social skills from television shows and films, and try to use these in my interactions.

In social interactions, I do not pay attention to what my face or body are doing.

In social situations, I feel like I am pretending to be ‘normal’.