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The Situational Fatigue Scale: A different approach to measuring fatigue

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Abstract

Fatigue can be defined as a subjective state of an imbalance in the availability of inner resources needed to perform physical or mental activities. The level of fatigue is determined not only by the availability of inner resources but also by the demands of the activities performed. Most conventional fatigue scales require subjects to rate their level of fatigue without specifying the situation. In the present study, we constructed a subjective rating scale, the Situational Fatigue Scale (SFS), with which subjects estimated their level of fatigue in specific activities of daily life. We administered the SFS, along with the Fatigue Assessment Instrument (FAI) to 96 outpatients in a family-medicine clinic and to 62 college students to assess the psychometric properties of the SFS. Principle component analysis revealed two underlying factors: physical fatigue and mental fatigue. SFS scores were significantly correlated with several FAI scores and differentiated patients complaining of fatigue from those who did not. The SFS also showed good internal consistency and test–retest reliability. These results suggest that the SFS could be a useful tool to measure a different dimension of the broad concept of fatigue.

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Abbreviations

DEFS:

Dutch Exertion Fatigue Scale

FAI:

Fatigue Assessment Instrument

MFS:

Mental Fatigue Subscale

PFS:

Physical Fatigue Subscale

SFS:

Situational Fatigue Scale

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, National Chengchi University, 64, sec.2, Chih-Nan Rd., Taipei, Taiwan, 116

    Chien-Ming Yang

  2. Department of Family Medicine, National Cheng-Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Chih-Hsing Wu

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  1. Chien-Ming Yang
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  2. Chih-Hsing Wu
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Correspondence to Chien-Ming Yang.

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Yang, CM., Wu, CH. The Situational Fatigue Scale: A different approach to measuring fatigue. Qual Life Res 14, 1357–1362 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-004-5680-0

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