Psychometric properties of the Chinese Empathy and Systemizing Quotients in a non-clinical sample

The Empathy Quotient (EQ) and Systemizing Quotient (SQ) are employed across countries to assess empathizing and systemizing abilities, however limited research on EQ and SQ has been conducted in China. To this end, the current study investigated psychometric properties of these two questionnaires in Chinese university students (n = 1564). Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicated that previous structures of EQ and SQ did not fit this sample adequately. Exploratory Factor Analysis and CFA were then conducted to produce a 22-item three-factor EQ and a shortened 12-item one-factor SQ; both questionnaires were reliable and valid. In comparison to previous research, gender differences of the EQ were small in effect size, whereas that of the SQ were medium in effect size. Moreover, EQ scores were negatively correlated with traits of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), consistent with the hypothesis of Extreme Male Brain of ASD, but SQ scores were negatively correlated with traits of ASD, inconsistent with the Extreme Male Brain hypothesis.