Validation and standardization of the Brain Fog Scale (BFS) in the U.S. general population

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cris.lastimport.scopus2025-12-17T04:13:57Z
dc.abstract.enThe aim of the present study was to conduct the first validation of the English version of the Brain Fog Scale (BFS) and to provide normative data. Using a cross-sectional study design, we collected online survey data among a representative sample of 2005 community-based adults from all U.S. states (M age = 45.81, SD = 15.86, Median = 47; 50.8 % female). The results demonstrate that the BFS is a reliable and valid measure of brain fog with excellent psychometric properties. Based on confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) results, the scale scores are best captured by three correlated factors labelled: mental fatigue, impaired cognitive acuity, and confusion. BFS total scores were significantly associated with physical fatigue, mental fatigue, mental distress, stress, and sleep disturbance, providing evidence for the BFS construct validity. BFS scores were also correlated with certain socio-demographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors, such as age, sex, global health status, alcohol abuse, pain/sleep medication intake, physical activity, and sugar consumption. The BFS can be used in clinical settings as a screening tool for a subjective mild cognitive decline and in clinical trials as an outcome measure.
dc.affiliationFaculty of Psychology
dc.affiliationWydział Psychologii we Wrocławiu
dc.affiliationInstytut Psychologii
dc.contributor.authorDębowska, Agata
dc.contributor.authorBoduszek, Daniel
dc.contributor.authorBielak, Sandra
dc.contributor.authorHales, George K.
dc.contributor.authorBojnowska, Urszula
dc.date.access2027-10-05
dc.date.accessioned2025-10-16T12:29:27Z
dc.date.available2025-10-16T12:29:27Z
dc.date.created2025-10-05
dc.date.issued2025-10-14
dc.description.accesstimeafter_publication
dc.description.grantnumberResearch Development Fund at the SWPS Univeristy
dc.description.granttitle47/2024/FRBN/G
dc.description.physical1-9
dc.description.versionfinal_author
dc.description.volume249
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.paid.2025.113499
dc.identifier.issn0191-8869
dc.identifier.urihttps://share.swps.edu.pl/handle/swps/1851
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0191886925004611?via%3Dihub
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationpsychologia
dc.rightsCC-BY-NC-ND
dc.rights.questionYes_rights
dc.share.articleOPEN_REPOSITORY
dc.subject.enBrain fog
dc.subject.enBrain Fog Scale (BFS)
dc.subject.enonfirmatory factor analysis (CFA)
dc.subject.enRepresentative U.S. adult sample
dc.subject.enNormative data
dc.swps.sciencecloudsend
dc.titleValidation and standardization of the Brain Fog Scale (BFS) in the U.S. general population
dc.title.journalPersonality and Individual Differences
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typeArticle