Abstract
PurposeThere has been a call to improve measurement rigour and standardization of food parenting practices measures, as well as aligning the measurement of food parenting practices with the parenting literature. Drawing from an expert-informed conceptual framework assessing three key domains of food parenting practices (autonomy promotion, control, and structure), this study combined factor analytic methods with Item Response Modeling (IRM) methodology to psychometrically validate responses to the Food Parenting Practice item bank.MethodsA sample of 799 Canadian parents of 5–12-year-old children completed the Food Parenting Practice item bank (129 items measuring 17 constructs). The factorial structure of the responses to the item bank was assessed with confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), confirmatory bi-factor item analysis, and IRM. Following these analyses, differential Item Functioning (DIF) and Differential Response Functioning (DRF) analyses were then used to test invariance properties by parents’ sex, income and ethnicity. Finally, the efficiency of the item bank was examined using computerized adaptive testing simulations to identify the items to include in a short form.ResultsOverall, the expert-informed conceptual framework was predominantly supported by the CFA as it retained the same 17 constructs included in the conceptual framework with the exception of the access/availability and permissive constructs which were respectively renamed covert control and accommodating the child to better reflect the content of the final solution. The bi-factor item analyses and IRM analyses revealed that the solution could be simplified to 11 unidimensional constructs and the full item bank included 86-items (empirical reliability from 0.78 to 0.96, except for 1 construct) and the short form had 48 items.ConclusionOverall the food parenting practice item bank has excellent psychometric properties. The item bank includes an expanded version and short version to meet various study needs. This study provides more efficient tools for assessing how food parenting practices influence child dietary behaviours. Next steps are to use the IRM calibrated item bank and draw on computerized adaptive testing methodology to administer the item bank and provide flexibility in item selection.
Highlights
Children’s eating behaviours and dietary intakes are influenced by numerous interacting factors at the individual, household, and broader community and societal levels [1, 2]
This study provides more efficient tools for assessing how food parenting practices influence child dietary behaviours
This study aimed to: 1) validate the factor structure of responses derived from the food parenting practices item bank using the published food parenting practices conceptual framework [17]; 2) examine whether the psychometric properties of the constructs assessed by the food parenting practices item bank are similar by parents’ sex, income, and ethnicity; and 3) determine the efficiency of the item bank and whether the constructs can be assessed with fewer items
Summary
Children’s eating behaviours and dietary intakes are influenced by numerous interacting factors at the individual, household, and broader community and societal levels [1, 2]. Reviews on the determinants of children’s fruit and vegetable consumption have shown that some parenting practice constructs such as parental modelling, availability of vegetables and fruit, food rules and encouragement are consistently associated with higher fruit and vegetable intake [8,9,10,11,12]. Some of these reviews [8, 10] point to a lack of standardization in how each construct is measured across studies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
