title: A psychometric analysis of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale.
abstract: Psychometric performance of the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) has not been evaluated in groups of workers. This study evaluated its use in a sample of 843 long-haul truckers. Interitem correlations and Cronbach's alpha were conducted. Correlation of the ESS with the sleep problems subscale of the Trucker Strain Monitor (TSM) was performed. Dimensionality was evaluated using factor analysis. Cronbach's alpha (.79) was strong. Interitem correlations were significant. A weak but significant correlation between the ESS and TSM sleep problems subscale (r = .18, p = < .001) was shown. Factor analysis yielded two factors that explained 56.2% of scale variance. The ESS performed well in the current sample. It is an inexpensive, time/cost-effective instrument. It should be considered for use in studies of workers in naturalistic settings.
authors.affiliation: University of Kentucky, Lexington 40215, USA. karen.heaton@uky.edu
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heaton
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016002:Discriminant Analysis; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012894:Sleep Stages; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D014186:Transportation; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance