Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of Executive Functions Assessment Questionnaire for School-Aged Children.

Abstract

Background and Purpose: Executive function refers to a collection of cognitive processes that is crucial for effective planning, decision-making, and behavioral regulation. It is particularly important during the school years. This study investigates the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Executive Functions Assessment Questionnaire (EFAQ) for school-aged children. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 on 400 school-aged children in Tehran, Iran, using a convenience sampling method. Following the translation of the questionnaire according to the protocol of the World Health Organization, forward and backward translation techniques into Persian, and its psychometric properties were evaluated through exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, as well as construct validity assessments. Reliability was assessed using coefficient alpha, McDonald's omega, composite reliability, and test-retest methods. Results: The results of the exploratory factor analysis revealed five factors: dependence on assistance, initiative and problem-solving skills, controlling sadness and anger, neatness and organization, and ultimately, social behavior challenges, which generally accounted for 40.607% of the total variance of the construct. Additionally, the confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the proposed model exhibits a satisfactory fit index (comparative fit index = 0.912, incremental fit index = 0.913, goodness-of-fit index = 0.927). The extracted factors demonstrated adequate convergent and discriminant validity, and ultimately, the reliability of the EFAQ was acceptable (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.7). Conclusions: The Persian version of the EFAQ for school-aged children exhibits favorable psychometric properties and can be utilized as a valid and reliable questionnaire for assessing children's executive functions in educational and research settings.