Introduction

The aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary Polish adaptation of the Monotropism Questionnaire (MQ) and to provide an initial evaluation of its psychometric properties, as well as to examine the relationships between monotropic processing, ADHD symptoms, and autistic traits.

Material and methods

Data were collected between May 2023 and July 2024. The study included 108 adults referred for assessment of ADHD and/or autism spectrum disorder, including 70 women (64.8%) and 38 men (35.2%). Participants ranged in age from 18 to 58 years (M = 31.39, SD = 8.44). The Polish version of the MQ (MQ-PL), the Ritvo Autism Asperger Diagnostic Scale-Revised (RAADS-R), and the Diagnostic Interview for ADHD in Adults (DIVA-5) were used. The reliability and factor structure of the MQ-PL were evaluated, and associations between MQ-PL scores, ADHD symptoms, and autistic traits were examined.

Results

The Polish version of the MQ-PL demonstrated high internal consistency for the total score (Cronbach’s  = 0.91), with the reliability of individual subscales ranging from moderate to good. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated good model fit. Positive associations were found between selected MQ-PL subscales and the severity of ADHD symptoms and autistic traits. No statistically significant sex differences were observed.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that the MQ-PL may be a promising instrument for assessing monotropic processing in adults. However, given the preliminary nature of the adaptation and the limitations of the study, further psychometric evaluation in larger and more diverse samples is needed to confirm the instrument’s psychometric properties.