Fusione e defusione: Adattamento e proprietà psicometriche della versione italiana del Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (I-CFQ)

Cognitive fusion refers to the process of considering one’s own thoughts as literally and objectively true, and it is one of the six processes in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. In a context of fusion, thoughts have a preponderant role in behavioural regulation instead of other sources of regulation (i.e. direct consequences of behaviour). The aim of this study is the validation of the Cognitive Fusion Questionnaire (CFQ) in the Italian context. The CFQ is a 7 item self-report questionnaire measuring the above-mentioned processes. Three hundred and seventy-seven participants completed the CFQ and other self-report measures that assess psychological flexibility (AAQ-II), mindfulness skills (MAAS), and symptoms related to mental distress (SCL-90; DASS-21). The CFQ shows a monofactorial structure, assessed both with Exploratory Factor Analysis and with Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The psychometric properties of the CFQ indicate excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alfa = 0.82), and excellent convergent validity with psychological flexibility (AAQ-II). Furthermore, the CFQ discriminates about 85% of the participants as having a probable discomfort (GSI > 1), showing excellent levels of sensitivity and specificity. Considering its features and psychometric properties, I-CFQ can be easily used both in research and in clinical practice, in the context of behavioural sciences.