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. 2023 Feb;67(2):148-158.
doi: 10.1111/jir.13000. Epub 2022 Dec 26.

Confirmatory factor analysis of the BRIEF2 in a sample of youth with Down syndrome

A Soltani  1 , E K Schworer  2   3 , L A Jacobson  4 , M M Channell  5 , N R Lee  6 , G G Faught  7 , R Grzadzinski  8 , D Fidler  9 , A J Esbensen  2   10
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Confirmatory factor analysis of the BRIEF2 in a sample of youth with Down syndrome

A Soltani et al. J Intellect Disabil Res. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

Background: The factor structure of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, second edition (BRIEF2) has been widely examined in both typically developing children and specific clinical samples. Despite the frequent use of the BRIEF2 for measuring executive functioning in individuals with Down syndrome, no study has investigated the factorial validity or dimensionality of the BRIEF2 in this population. This study aimed to address this notable gap in the literature.

Methods: Parents of 407 children and youth with Down syndrome aged 6-18 years completed the BRIEF2 as part of different studies led by six sites. Three competing models proposed by previous studies were analysed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis: the theoretical structure of the BRIEF2 where the scales were constrained to load on three factors labelled as Cognitive, Behavioral, and Emotional Regulation, a two-factor correlated model with the merged Behavioral and Emotional regulation, and a single-factor model.

Results: The three-factor model provided a better fit than the one- and two-factor models, yet a large correlation was observed between Behavioural and Emotional regulation factors. The results provide meaningful explanatory value for the theoretical structure of the BRIEF2. However, the Behavioral and Emotional regulation factors might be less differentiated and the two-factor structure of the BRIEF2 may also make theoretical and empirical sense.

Conclusions: Although more studies are needed to further examine the factor structure of the BRIEF2 in youth with Down syndrome, this investigation provides preliminary support for the interpretation of the three executive function index scores provided by the BRIEF2: Cognitive, Behavioral, and Emotional Regulation.

Keywords: BRIEF2; CFA; Down syndrome; Executive functioning; Trisomy 21.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Diagram of the three‐factor model. BRI, Behavioral Regulation Index; ERI, Emotional Regulation Index; CRI, Cognitive Regulation Index; S‐M, Self‐Monitor; EC, Emotional Control; WM, Working Memory; P/O, Plan/Organize; T‐M, Task‐Monitor; OM, Organisation of Materials.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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