Development and validation of the Tiredness Identification Index (TIDI): a combined scale for the assessment of fatigue and sleepiness

Reeve, Sarah ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9374-0950, Sheaves, Bryony, Loe, Bao Sheng and Freeman, Daniel (2026) Development and validation of the Tiredness Identification Index (TIDI): a combined scale for the assessment of fatigue and sleepiness. SLEEP Advances, 7 (3).

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Abstract

Study Objectives: Tiredness is a common presentation composed of sleepiness (propensity towards sleeping) and fatigue (feelings of physiological exhaustion). Differentiating between these presentations is important for diagnosis and management. The current study reports on the development and validation of an integrated measure of tiredness (Tiredness Identification Index - TIDI) incorporating assessment of sleepiness and fatigue, and the relationship of the measure with sleep and mental health outcomes. Method: A sample of 6706 adult participants responded to a pool of sleepiness and fatigue items. Regularised structural equation modelling and confirmatory factor analysis were used to refine the items and factor structure based on convergence against validation measures of fatigue and sleepiness. Regression analyses were then applied to test relationships of the sleepiness and fatigue factors with sleep, mental health, and wellbeing variables. Results: An 8-item scale was developed, composed of a sleepiness (TIDI-sleepiness) and fatigue (TIDI-fatigue) factor with divergent and convergent validity, alongside a general tiredness factor. Higher TIDI-sleepiness was associated with increased apnoea risk and shorter sleep duration, whereas TIDI-fatigue was associated with increased insomnia and reduced sleep efficiency. Controlling for TIDI-sleepiness, TIDI-fatigue was associated with increased depression, anxiety, reduced well-being, and lower physical activity. Increased TIDI-sleepiness and TIDI-fatigue were both associated with paranoia and hallucinations. Conclusions: The results indicate that the TIDI can be used as a brief scale to measure and differentiate fatigue and sleepiness, particularly in non-clinical populations and for research purposes. Assessment of its validity in discriminating fatigue and sleepiness in relevant clinical sleep, mental, and physical health populations should be a focus of future research.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: Data availability statement: Data are available from the corresponding author upon request.
Uncontrolled Keywords: sleepiness,fatigue,tiredness,measurement,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Mental Health and Social Care (fka Lifespan Health)
Depositing User: LivePure Connector
Date Deposited: 07 Aug 2026 13:41
Last Modified: 09 Aug 2026 05:33
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104046
DOI: 10.1093/sleepadvances/zpag072

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