Helen J. Michielsen

Psychometric qualities of a brief self-rated fatigue measure : The Fatigue Assessment Scale

OBJECTIVE The main aim of this study was to examine the dimensionality and psychometric qualities of a new 10-item fatigue measure, the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS). METHODS As part of a longitudinal study, the respondents, all workers with at least 20 working hours per week, completed the FAS, four related fatigue measures, a depression questionnaire, and an emotional stability scale. RESULTS The FAS had a high internal consistency. The pattern of correlations and factor analysis showed good convergent and divergent validity. The FAS correlated strongly with the other fatigue scales. In a factor analysis of the five fatigue questionnaires, the FAS had the highest factor loading on a clear one-factor solution. Moreover, factor analyses revealed that fatigue, on the one hand, and depression and emotional stability, on the other hand, are separate constructs. Finally, it was shown that 8 out of the 10 FAS items were unbiased concerning gender; two had a uniform bias. CONCLUSIONS The FAS represents a potentially valuable assessment instrument with promising internal consistency reliability and validity. Gender bias in the FAS does not have consequences for use of the FAS.

Examination of the Dimensionality of Fatigue

Summary: This paper reports on two studies. The goal of Study I was to examine the dimensionality of existing fatigue scales. The aims of Study II were to construct a new self-report fatigue instru...

Assessment of fatigue among working people: a comparison of six questionnaires

Aims: To compare the psychometric qualities of six fatigue questionnaires in a sample of working persons. Methods: Internal consistency and test-retest reliability, content validity, convergent validity, and the dimensionality of the fatigue instruments were explored. Results: All scales had a satisfactory internal consistency. Furthermore, based on factor analyses and Mokken scale analyses, all scales were unidimensional and appeared to measure an identical construct. The Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS) had the highest factor loading on the one factor solution obtained in a factor analysis of the total scores of all scales. Conclusions: All the questionnaires were unidimensional and had good reliability and validity. The FAS was the most promising fatigue measure.

Symptoms of fatigue in chronic heart failure patients: Clinical and psychological predictors☆

To examine the role of clinical and psychological characteristics as predictors of fatigue in CHF.

Determinants of general fatigue and emotional exhaustion: a prospective study

The present study was undertaken to determine the factors that predict general fatigue and emotional exhaustion over two years. Because fatigue is hypothesized to be persistent, general fatigue and emotional exhaustion at baseline were included as predictors. A model of mediators and moderators of the stress-health relationship (Taylor and Aspinwall, 1996), was employed to select the other variables. A sample of the Dutch working population (N = 325) completed questionnaires concerning demographic variables, personality and temperament, work pressure and workload, perceived social support, perceived stress, and coping strategies. Emotional exhaustion and general fatigue, measured two years later, were the outcome variables. Structural equation modeling indicated that general fatigue and emotional exhaustion are rather persistent. Furthermore, workload predicted both emotional exhaustion and general fatigue. Finally, emotional exhaustion was predicted by hardiness, whereas general fatigue was predicted by strength of inhibition.

Relationship between Symptoms and Quality of Life in a Sarcoidosis Population

Background: As sarcoidosis is a multisytemic disorder, patients may suffer from various symptoms. The relationship between frequently reported symptoms and quality of life (QOL) has not yet been studied. Objectives: The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to examine the predictive value of the most frequently reported subjective symptoms on QOL after controlling for demographic variables and clinical parameters. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at an outpatient pulmonary clinic in Zagreb, Croatia. One hundred and fifty outpatients with sarcoidosis were seen between January 2002 and May 2004. Symptoms were assessed with a symptom inventory questionnaire, and QOL was measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life Assessment Instrument. Clinical parameters were derived from the patients’ medical files. Regression analyses were performed to examine the predictive value of symptoms on QOL. Results: The four most frequently mentioned symptoms were fatigue, breathlessness, reduced exercise capacity and arthralgia. In various combinations, being female, using corticosteroids and fatigue predicted the QOL domains physical and psychological health as well as level of independence. Con- clusions: Fatigue appeared to be the most important symptom in predicting various QOL domains after controlling for demographics, disease stage and clinical parameters. Therefore, considering improvement in the patients’ QOL, it is recommended to focus not only on objective health parameters, but also on fatigue in the management of sarcoidosis.

In search of personality and temperament predictors of chronic fatigue: a prospective study

This prospective study examined the relationships between temperament and personality, on the one hand, and chronic fatigue, on the other hand. The temperament variables were the Five-Factor-Model dimensions Emotional stability and Extraversion as well as Pavlovian temperament traits. The personality variables were the Five-Factor-Model dimensions Agreeableness, Conscientiousness and Autonomy, plus hardiness and Type A behavior pattern. It was expected that these person characteristics were negatively linked to fatigue except for (1) Type A and (2) Conscientiousness and Autonomy, which were scrutinized in an exploratory way. Respondents (N=351), working at least 20 h per week, completed two surveys. The first survey contained the temperament and personality questionnaires and the fatigue scale, while the second one, 2 years later, included the fatigue scale. Results indicated that high scores on the Five-Factor-Model dimensions Emotional Stability and Extraversion, the Pavlovian temperament variable Strength of Inhibition, and the hardiness component Commitment predicted lower fatigue scores. However, when in the analysis fatigue measured 2 years earlier was controlled for, only Extraversion and Strength of Inhibition appeared to be good predictors. Even so, these two predictors did not explain a large proportion of the variance. When men and women were examined separately, personality and temperament predicted almost nihil. In conclusion, when fatigue measured earlier is controlled for, the direct role of temperament and personality decreases enormously.