The Turkish Adaptation of Mental Fatigue Scale: A Validity and Reliability Study

Background: Mental fatigue has effects on many aspects of daily life. It causes many problems such as stress, anxiety, burnout, and depression in individuals. Therefore, it is important and necessary to determine mental fatigue. There is no detailed and multidimensional scale that can evaluate mental fatigue in Türkiye.

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of Mental Fatigue Scale.

Methods: This methodological study was conducted with 171 nurses in Türkiye between March and April 2021. Data were collected using an information form, the Mental Fatigue Scale, and the Chalder Fatigue Scale. Language validity and content validity were studied for regarding the adaptation. The construct validity of the scale was evaluated by confirmatory factor analysis. The reliability of the scale was evaluated by internal consistency reliability coefficient and item-total score correlation, tested with similar measurement tools, and test-retest reliability method was performed for time invariance.

Results: As a result of confirmatory factor analysis, the 12-item and a single-factor structure of the Mental Fatigue Scale was determined. The factor loads of the items were between 0.40 and 0.75. The fit indices of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis were χ2/df = 1.723; standardized root-mean-square residual = 0.054; goodness of-fit index = 0.928; normed fit index = 0.916; comparative fit index = 0.935, and root mean square error of approximation = 0.065. Internal consistency reliability coefficients of the scale were 0.844. A strong positive correlation was found between the Chalder Fatigue Scale and the Mental Fatigue Scale.

Conclusion: The Turkish version of Mental Fatigue Scale is a valid and reliable scale that can be used to evaluate the mental fatigue level.