title: Factor structure and measurement invariance of the cognitive failures questionnaire across the adult life span.
abstract: The Cognitive Failures Questionnaire (CFQ) is designed to assess a person's proneness to committing cognitive slips and errors in the completion of everyday tasks. Although the CFQ is a widely used instrument, its factor structure remains an issue of scientific debate. The present study used data of a representative sample (N = 1,303, 24-83 years of age) from the Maastricht Aging Study (MAAS) to test and compare factor solutions for the CFQ previously reported in the literature by means of confirmatory factor analysis of ordered categorical variables. A three-factor model of the CFQ from an exploratory factor analysis was tested for increasing levels of measurement invariance across six age groups. Factor (co-)variances remained stable across the age groups, mean differences were observed for the factor Forgetfulness with higher means for older participants, and the factor Distractibility where participants older than 60 years of age had lower means.
authors.affiliation: Gerontopsychology, Department of Psychology, University of Zurich, Binzmühlestr. 14/24, CH-8050 Zurich. p.rast@psychologie.uzh.ch
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rast
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zimprich
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Van Boxtel
authors.forename: Jellemer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jolles
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires