Brief Assessment of Mealtime Behavior in Children: Psychometrics and Association With Child Characteristics and Parent Responses

Abstract

The present study examined psychometric properties of the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) when applied to a population of children with feeding problems. The new scale was renamed the Brief Assessment of Mealtime Behavior in Children (BAMBIC) for wider clinical usefulness. Parents completed questionnaires with the original BAMBI, the Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire, and the Parent Mealtime Action Scale. The revised BAMBIC developed with factor analysis had stronger psychometrics than the original scale and produced three subscales of feeding problems: Limited Variety, Food Refusal, and Disruptive Behavior. More Limited Variety was reported for boys than girls, and more Food Refusal was reported for younger children and children with special needs.