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The Cognitive Function at Work Questionnaire (CFWQ): A new scale for measuring cognitive complaints in occupational
Anna-Leena Heikkinen1,2,3, Tuomo Hänninen4, Pekka Kuikka2
1Research Unit of Clinical Neuroscience, Neurology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
Applied Neuropsychology. Adult
|September 6, 2021
Summary
A new questionnaire, the Cognitive Function at Work Questionnaire (CFWQ), effectively measures subjective cognitive complaints in employees. This tool demonstrates good reliability and validity, linking cognitive complaints to mental health and work stressors.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Psychometrics
Background:
- Assessing subjective cognitive complaints (SCC) in the workplace is crucial for employee well-being and productivity.
- Existing validated methods for measuring SCC in occupational settings are limited.
- Cognitive functioning impacts work performance and overall health.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and validate the Cognitive Function at Work Questionnaire (CFWQ) for assessing SCC in occupational populations.
- To evaluate the psychometric properties of the CFWQ, including reliability and validity.
- To examine the relationship between CFWQ scores and various psychological and work-related factors.
Main Methods:
- A 1-year follow-up study involving 418 employees from a Finnish media company.
- Participants completed the web-based CFWQ, cognitive tests, and questionnaires on depression, anxiety, insomnia, burnout, stress, job burden, work ability, cognitive errors, and health.
- Factor analysis was used to determine the CFWQ's structure, while reliability and validity were assessed using Cronbach's alpha, ICC, and correlations.
Main Results:
- Factor analysis identified six CFWQ subdomains: Memory, Language, Executive Function, Speed of Processing, Cognitive Control, and Name Memory.
- The CFWQ demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = .87) and test-retest reliability (ICC = .84).
- Concurrent validity was adequate, with correlations between CFWQ and cognitive errors ranging from .25 to .64. Higher CFWQ scores were significantly associated with depression, insomnia, burnout, and accumulated stressors.
Conclusions:
- The Cognitive Function at Work Questionnaire (CFWQ) is a psychometrically sound instrument for measuring subjective cognitive complaints in the workplace.
- The CFWQ effectively differentiates between employees with and without symptoms of depression, insomnia, and burnout.
- Findings underscore the link between mental health, stressors, and subjective cognitive functioning in occupational settings.
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