Emotional distress or executive dysfunction? What is the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult self-report scale actually assessing in an assessment-seeking postsecondary sample?

Using archival Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Functioning-Adult (BRIEF-A), Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), and executive functioning (EF) test data from 826 assessment-seeking postsecondary students, this study sought to assess the impact that response bias, symptom validity, and psychological factors have on self-reported executive dysfunction and the relationship between self-reported EF and objective performance. Study 1 examined whether the BRIEF-A adequately samples negative response bias (NRB) and what the effect was of undetected NRB on obtained BRIEF-A scores. Study 2 explored the relationship between PAI scales and the BRIEF-A Metacognitive Index. When controlling for NRB, Study 3 examined whether objective EF test scores or psychological complaints best predict self-reported EF problems on the BRIEF-A. Findings demonstrate that NRB, as measured by the PAI, resulted in significantly elevated scores on all of the BRIEF-A scales and indices compared with valid reporters. The BRIEF-A Metacognitive Index was most strongly correlated with and best predicted by an overall measure of general psychological distress on the PAI. When controlling for NRB, all BRIEF-A indices were unrelated to objective EF performance but significantly related to general psychological distress along with psychological symptoms reported on the PAI. Overall, in a postsecondary population, responses on the BRIEF-A appear most reflective of psychological symptoms and NRB, not performance on objective EF tests. Clinical implications are discussed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).