Fatigue in the general population: a translation and test of the psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the fatigue severity scale

Scand J Public Health. 2005;33(2):123-30. doi: 10.1080/14034940410028406.

Abstract

Objective: A study was undertaken to test the psychometric properties of the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), and to explore the relationship between fatigue and sociodemographic variables in the general population.

Method: A national representative sample of 1893 respondents was randomly selected from a pool of 4,000 Norwegians aged 19-81 years. A mailed questionnaire that included the FSS was used to measure fatigue severity.

Results: The FSS showed satisfactory internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha 0.88). The prevalence of high fatigue (FSS score > = 5) was 23.1% in the total sample. More women (26.2%) than men (19.8%) experienced high fatigue (p = 0.004). Respondents with chronic illness (more than six months) reported a higher mean (M = 4.69, SD = 1.35) than the rest of the sample (M = 3.67, SD = 1.17) (p<0.001). An inverse correlation was found between fatigue and level of formal education (r = 0.20, p<0.001).

Conclusion: The psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of FSS were satisfactory. To avoid over-diagnosing people for high level of fatigue, the threshold for high fatigue probably should be 5 on the FSS scale instead of 4 as had been suggested originally, but further validation of the cut-off point is needed.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Fatigue / diagnosis*
  • Fatigue / epidemiology
  • Fatigue / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Norway / epidemiology
  • Prevalence
  • Psychometrics / methods*
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sex Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires