A-171 A Factor Analytic Investigation of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition in a Pediatric Clinical Sample

Objective The parent-report Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2) is a widely used measure in pediatric clinical neuropsychology. Unfortunately, despite notable changes from its predecessor, few studies to date have examined its internal factor structure (comprised of Behavioral Regulation [BRI], Emotion Regulation [ERI], and Cognitive Regulation [CRI]). Thus, this study sought to investigate the dimensionality of the parent-report BRIEF-2 in a mixed clinical sample. Method Two hundred two (202) outpatient pediatric neuropsychology examinees (M age = 9.90; 68% males; 53.5% with diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder) with complete data for the parent-report BRIEF-2 were extracted from an archival dataset. The sample was randomly split for confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses (CFA and EFA; ns = 101). Results Descriptive results revealed elevated scores across BRIEF-2 scales (Global Executive Composite M T = 70.16). CFA revealed that the theoretical three-factor model described by the BRIEF-2’s authors provided generally poor fit (root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = .12). Also, the three-factor model did not provide statistically significantly nor relatively better fit than a simpler two-factor model (RMSEA = .12), which merged BRI and ERI (consistent with the original BRIEF), identified via EFA. Conclusion(s) A two-factor structure (CRI and BRI/ERI) for the BRIEF-2 may be a more parsimonious and preferred model compared to the theoretical three-factor model in heavily neurodevelopmental clinical samples with high levels of reported executive dysfunction. Implications of these findings in context of previous literature, limitations of the present study, and appropriate directions for future inquiry are noted.