Studying self-awareness in children: validation of the Questionnaire of Executive Functioning (QEF).
OBJECTIVE
People with accurate representations of their own cognitive functioning (i.e. cognitive self-awareness) tend to use appropriate strategies to regulate their behavior. Due to the lack of appropriate instruments, few studies have examined the development of this ability among children.


METHODS
This study tested the measurement properties of the self-rating and other-rating forms of the Questionnaire of Executive Functioning (QEF), designed to tap children's knowledge of their executive functioning. Specifically, the construct, convergent, and discriminant validities were investigated and a self-other discrepancy score was computed to assess children's executive self-awareness. Participants were 317 children aged 7-14 years old.


RESULTS
Confirmatory factor analyses carried out on the QEF confirmed the eight-factor structure of both versions. There were significant correlations between the QEF and the parent versions of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, the Dysexecutive Questionnaire for Children, and the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory. Both forms of the QEF were able to distinguish between children who had sustained a traumatic brain injury (TBI) and control participants. A statistical difference was observed between the TBI and control groups on this score, suggesting that TBI may trigger self-awareness impairments in children.


CONCLUSIONS
The good psychometric properties of the two forms of the QEF were established. Furthermore, results of the analyses carried out on the different discrepancy scores seem to indicate that the QEF could help clinicians to detect patients with self-awareness deficits.
a Department of Psychology, Neuropsychology Unit , University of Liège , Liège , Belgium.
Marie
M
Geurten
a Department of Psychology, Neuropsychology Unit , University of Liège , Liège , Belgium.
Corinne
C
Catale
b Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics , University of Liège , Liège , Belgium.
Claire
C
Geurten
a Department of Psychology, Neuropsychology Unit , University of Liège , Liège , Belgium.
Murielle
M
Wansard
a Department of Psychology, Neuropsychology Unit , University of Liège , Liège , Belgium.
Thierry
T
Meulemans
D000293:Adolescent; D000070642:Brain Injuries, Traumatic / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D056344:Executive Function; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D016489:Head Injuries, Closed / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards*; D002666:Psychology, Child / Q000379:methods*; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012649:Self Concept; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Self-awareness; children; executive functions; psychometric properties