Zagaria Andrea, D'Amico Monica, Cerolini Silvia, Mocini Edoardo, Lombardo Caterina
Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University of Rome, Rome, Italy.
BMC Psychol. 2024 Dec 4;12(1):724. doi: 10.1186/s40359-024-02179-6.
The Cognitive Flexibility Scale (CFS) is a 12-item self-report questionnaire designed to assess cognitive flexibility. Despite its widespread use, its psychometric properties have yet to be evaluated in the Italian context. Furthermore, while cognitive flexibility has emerged as a central correlate in Feeding and Eating Disorders, only a limited number of studies have investigated its association with Orthorexia Nervosa (ON), a clinical condition characterized by a pathological fixation with healthy eating. The present study aimed to fill these two knowledge gaps.
A total of 803 participants (M = 33.89, SD = 9.44; 68.6% females) were enrolled in the investigation. The sample was randomly split into two subsamples: the first one for examining the psychometric properties of the CFS, and the second one for evaluating its association with ON symptoms. Participants completed self-report questionnaires assessing the constructs under investigation.
Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a global dimension of cognitive flexibility, alongside a method factor accounting for covariance arising by reverse-worded items. The CFS, which was factorially invariant across genders, yielded a reliable total score (ω = 0.834) and provided evidence of convergent and criterion-related validity. Importantly, structural equation modelling showed that cognitive flexibility was negatively associated with emotional distress resulting from violations of orthorexic dietary rules (β = -0.279, p < .001).
The CFS demonstrated to be a psychometrically robust instrument in the Italian context. Moreover, cognitive flexibility may be an important treatment target for mitigating the distress derived from ON symptoms, informing the development of future therapeutic approaches.
认知灵活性量表（CFS）是一份包含12个条目的自陈式问卷，旨在评估认知灵活性。尽管该量表被广泛使用，但其心理测量学特性尚未在意大利背景下得到评估。此外，虽然认知灵活性已成为饮食失调症的一个核心相关因素，但只有少数研究调查了其与神经性正直饮食症（ON）的关联，神经性正直饮食症是一种以对健康饮食的病态执着为特征的临床状况。本研究旨在填补这两个知识空白。
共有803名参与者（M = 33.89，SD = 9.44；68.6%为女性）参与了调查。样本被随机分为两个子样本：第一个用于检验CFS的心理测量学特性，第二个用于评估其与ON症状的关联。参与者完成了评估所研究构念的自陈式问卷。
验证性因素分析揭示了认知灵活性的一个总体维度，以及一个解释反向表述条目产生的协方差的方法因素。CFS在不同性别间具有因素不变性，产生了可靠的总分（ω = 0.834），并提供了收敛效度和效标关联效度的证据。重要的是，结构方程模型显示，认知灵活性与因违反正直饮食规则而产生的情绪困扰呈负相关（β = -0.279，p <.001）。
在意大利背景下，CFS被证明是一种心理测量学稳健的工具。此外，认知灵活性可能是减轻ON症状所致困扰的一个重要治疗靶点，为未来治疗方法的发展提供参考。
