Psychometric Properties and Adaptation of the Parent-Report Version of the Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Short-Form Scale in Spanish Children.

Abstract

Introduction: Executive functioning (EF) encompasses essential cognitive abilities crucial for self-regulation and goal achievement. The Barkley Deficits in Executive Functioning Scale in Children and Adolescents (BDEFS-CA) is a widely utilized tool for assessing EF in youth, with the short-form parent-reported version comprising twenty items.

Objective: This study aims to assess the psychometric properties of the Spanish version of the BDEFS-CA Short-Form in children, including factor structure, reliability, validity, and sex invariance.

Method: Following transcultural adaptation by bilingual experts, the Spanish version was administered to 377 parents of children aged 6-12. Convergent validity was assessed using the Childhood Executive Functioning Inventory (CHEXI).

Results: Results from confirmatory factor analysis supported a bifactor model encompassing a general EF factor and specific subscales (Comparative Fit Index = 0.984; Root-Mean-Square Error of Approximation = 0.048; Standardized Root Mean Square Residual = 0.024): time management (TM), problem solving/organization (PS), inhibition (IN), motivation (MOT), and emotional regulation (ER). High internal consistency was observed for both the general EF factor (α/ω = 0.956) and its subscales (TM: α/ω > 0.89, PS: α/ω > 0.93, IN: α/ω > 0.94, MOT: α/ω > 0.91, ER: α/ω > 0.93). Convergent validity was confirmed through strong correlations between BDEFS-CA and CHEXI scores (r = 0.552-0.892, P < 0.001). Sex invariance analysis revealed similar factor structures for men and women.

Conclusions: The Spanish adaptation of the BDEFS-CA Short-Form demonstrates strong psychometric properties, making it a reliable tool for assessing EF in Spanish-speaking children. Its simplicity and suitability suggest potential use by adults for gathering children's information.