Assessing functioning in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: Psychometric properties and factor structure of the School and Social Adjustment Scale and the Physical Functioning Subscale of the SF36

M. E. Loades, S. Vitoratou, K. A. Rimes, T. Chalder*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) has a major impact on functioning. However, no validated measures of functioning for this population exist.Aims: We aimed to establish the psychometric properties of the 5-item School and Social Adjustment Scale (SSAS) and the 10-item Physical Functioning Subscale of the SF-36 in adolescents with CFS.Method: Measures were completed by adolescents with CFS (n = 121).Results: For the Physical Functioning Subscale, a 2-factor solution provided a close fit to the data. Internal consistency was satisfactory. For the SSAS, a 1-factor solution provided an adequate fit to the data. The internal consistency was satisfactory. Inter-item and item-total correlations did not indicate any problematic items and functioning scores were moderately correlated with other measures of disability, providing evidence of construct validity.Conclusion: Both measures were found to be reliable and valid and provide brief measures for assessing these important outcomes. The Physical Functioning Subscale can be used as two subscales in adolescents with CFS.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)546-556
Number of pages11
JournalBehavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy
Volume48
Issue number5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2020
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Psychology

Keywords

  • academic
  • adolescents
  • CFS
  • functioning
  • physical
  • social

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Assessing functioning in adolescents with chronic fatigue syndrome: Psychometric properties and factor structure of the School and Social Adjustment Scale and the Physical Functioning Subscale of the SF36'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this