Cognitive functioning self-assessment scale (CFSS): Preliminary psychometric data

Abstract

The cognitive functioning is included in the concept of quality of life. Many times well-being remains incomplete because of cognitive difficulties, that people are not always able to properly recognize and explain. Nonetheless, only few instruments, specifically thought for non-clinical neurologic populations, are available to measure them. The present study is an attempt at providing a self-report instrument – cognitive functioning self-assessment scale (CFSS) – to measure the individual cognitive functioning in general population. The CFSS is itemized into18 questions to which participants answer on a five-point scale. Two hundred and eighty-two patients in a General Practitioner study have filled-in the CFSS together with a clinical and socio-demographic data form. Explorative factor analysis, using principal component analysis, suggests the consideration ofthe CFSS as one-dimensional; internal reliability = 0.856. Non-parametric testshave shown that women report a worse cognitive functioning than men, while no differences emerged in relation to age, manual prevalence, presence of an illness or being in pharmacological treatment. Although further verifications are necessary, the CFSS seems to be a promising self-report cognitive functioning measure.

Keywords:

• cognitive functioning
• general population
• psychometrics
• self-assessment
• quality of life

Acknowledgement

The authors thank Mrs. Luigina Mei for editorial assistance.