Abstract
BACKGROUND: Assessment of cognitive function is essential to identify the impact of brain aging, disease or injury on individuals. The Short Form Cognitive Function Scale is a brief instrument, easy to use in clinical and research settings with simple interpretation. However, its psychometric properties have not been confirmed in the general Mexican population. The aim of this study was to determine the psychometric properties of the Short Form Cognitive Function Scale in the general Mexican population. METHODS: An instrumental design was conducted with 600 participants. Analyses were performed to evaluate factor structure (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis), reliability (internal consistency), measurement invariance, construct validity (convergent and divergent) and Know-Groups Validity. RESULTS: A unifactorial structure of 8 items was verified with an internal consistency of α = 0.945 and a McDonald Omega index of Ω = 0.946. Measurement invariance was confirmed (ΔCFI & TLI ≤ 0.01; ΔRMSEA & SRMR ≤ 0.015), with respect to gender, age groups and geographic area of residence. Finally, the Short Form Cognitive Function Scale showed adequate convergent validity with the Subjective Well-Being variable (r =.507, p <.001), divergent with the GAD 5 (r = -.517, p <.001), and discriminant between younger and older participants (t = -5.304, p <.001). CONCLUSIONS: The Short Form Cognitive Function Scale version for the general Mexican population presented adequate psychometric properties that make it a valid and reliable instrument for use in non-clinical and research settings in Mexico.