Executive functioning in schizophrenia using a novel virtual reality-simulated workplace: validity, test-retest reliability, and links to competitive employment

Authors

• Ernest Marek Tyburski, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
• Ewa Zawadzka, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
• Adrianna Bober, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
• Ewa Karabanowicz, University of Szczecin
• Piotr Podwalski, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
• Jerzy Samochowiec, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
• Anna Michalczyk, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
• Shane T. Mueller, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
• Michał Szelepajło, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
• Błażej Misiak, Wrocław Medical University
• Monika Folkierska-Żukowska, University of Toronto Mississauga
• Monika Mak, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
• Michał Harciarek, University of Gdańsk
• Krzysztof Wietrzyński, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin
• Ashok Jansari, University of London

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-11-2026

Department

Department of Psychology and Human Factors

Abstract

Virtual reality offers a promising avenue for the assessment of executive functioning in complex workplace environments. However, its use in schizophrenia remains limited. For that reason, we investigated the validity and test-retest reliability of the Jansari assessment of Executive Functions (JEF©) in individuals with schizophrenia and its associations with competitive employment. A total of 69 participants with schizophrenia and 67 healthy controls completed JEF© and standard tests. A subsample of 58 patients was retested after an 8-week interval. Individuals with schizophrenia performed more poorly than controls on JEF© (p <  0.001) and standard tests (p <  0.05). JEF© scores correlated with standard measures (p <  0.05), except inhibition tests, and with clinician-report of everyday problems (p <  0.001). Total score showed a good test-retest reliability and the practice adjusted RCI indicated 87.9% of patients remained stable over 8 weeks. In logistic regression, higher JEF© total score significantly predicted competitive employment after adjusting for age (p = 0.004) and remained significant when years of education were added (p = 0.014). This comprehensive evaluation indicates that JEF© is a valid and reliable tool assessing executive functions required in office work and offers an ecologically relevant complement to standard measures in schizophrenia.

Publisher's Statement

© The Author(s) 2026. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40643-y

Publication Title

Scientific reports

Recommended Citation

Tyburski, E. M., Zawadzka, E., Bober, A., Karabanowicz, E., Podwalski, P., Samochowiec, J., Michalczyk, A., Mueller, S. T., Szelepajło, M., Misiak, B., Folkierska-Żukowska, M., Mak, M., Harciarek, M., Wietrzyński, K., & Jansari, A. (2026). Executive functioning in schizophrenia using a novel virtual reality-simulated workplace: validity, test-retest reliability, and links to competitive employment. Scientific reports. http://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-40643-y
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/michigantech-p2/2464

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Version

Publisher's PDF