The Reliability and Validity of the Turkish Version of the Mental Fatigue Scale In Healthy Individuals

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to investigate the reliability and validity of the Turkish version of the Mental Fatigue Scale (MFS) in healthy Turkish population. Methods: This study was held in Hacettepe University, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation between April and August 2019. A total of one hundred thirty-two healthy participants aged between 18-50 years were recruited. Reliability was investigated using test-retest reliability. The internal consistency of MFS was calculated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. The validity of the MFS was assessed by comparing the MFS score with the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and Checklist Individual Strength Questionnaire (CIS-T) scores. Pearson correlation coefficient was used to evaluate validity. Results: The test-retest reliability of the MFS were excellent in healthy Turkish population (ICC: 0.91, with a 95% confidence interval of 0.88- 0.94). The scale had high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.86). For the validity, the correlations between the MFS and the total/subscales of CIS-T scores and SF-36 scores were good (p<0.001). The correlations between the MFS and CIS-T subscales (subjective feeling of fatigue, r=0.50; concentration, r=0.53; motivation, r=0.42) and CIS-T total (r=0.56) were good (p<0.001). Significant correlations were found between the MFS and SF-36 subscales (energy/fatigue, r=0.54; emotional well-being, r=0.54, general health, r=0.41) (p<0.001). Conclusion: The Turkish version of the Mental Fatigue Scale has been demonstrated to be valid and reliable to assess mental fatigue in Turkish population. The Turkish Mental Fatigue Scale is suggested to be a valuable tool for assessment of mental fatigue in healthy Turkish population.