Subjective Assessment of Personal Fatigue Questionnaire: development, psychometric characterisation, application

Abstract

Introduction. Professional activity, including the solution of operational-service tasks, involves both physical and psychological resources of the employee. It results in tiredness, exhaustion and risk of fatigue development, reducing the efficiency and quality of his activity. Early psychodiagnostics makes it possible to take timely measures to prevent fatigue. The author proposes using the questionnaire “Subjective Assessment of Personal Fatigue”. The assessment of fatigue is an indicator of the dominant mental state of the subject of work activity, his motivational features and staff risks, manifested in his efficiency, satisfaction with his professional career, professional and psychological well-being. The main purpose of the questionnaire is to identify the level of employee's fatigue on the basis of subjective assessment of memory, attention and working capacity. The questionnaire is a set of 17 items, each of which is evaluated on a seven-point scale (from 1– completely disagree to 7 – completely agree). The final scale point is calculated by summing up the points for all items of the questionnaire. Depending on the expression of the total point, the level of fatigue in the continuum “tiredness – weariness – fatigue” is assessed. The higher the point, the more the scales are shifted in the direction of fatigue. Research Methods. Correlational and comparative analyses. Assessment of retest reliability and construct and criterion validity. Results. The questionnaire “Subjective Assessment of Personal Fatigue” requires minimal time for implementation and processing, and can be applied in various situations, both for practical and research purposes. The presented questionnaire fulfils the basic psychometric requirements for the development of professional psychological tests. The questionnaire can be used within the framework of moral and psychological support of activity of employees of internal affairs bodies, for determination of risks and resources of prevention of fatigue, psychological assistance, self-help for employees in this state.