Confirmation of the Factor Structure and Reliability of the ‘Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire’ in an Adolescent Sample

Claudia Hunot-Alexander,William Goodman,Clare Llewellyn,Rebecca J Beeken,Alison Fildes,Silje Steinsbekk,Helen Croker

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01991

Abstract

IntroductionAppetitive traits, including Food Responsiveness, Enjoyment of Food, Satiety Responsiveness, Emotional Over- and Under-Eating, Food Fussiness and Slowness in Eating, have been captured across childhood using the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). The Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ) has explored these traits in adults, but not adolescents. This study aimed to test the factor structure and reliability of the AEBQ in a sample of UK adolescents, and explore demographic differences.Materials and MethodsConfirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested an 8-factor and a 7-factor AEBQ, based on valid, completed AEBQ responses (n = 913) from adolescents aged 11–18 recruited from four London secondary schools. Test–retest reliability was analyzed in a subsample (n = 106) 2-weeks later, and 492 participants completed the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) to assess convergent validity. Demographic differences were explored using a multiple indicator multiple cause (MIMIC) model.ResultsThe CFA revealed an adequate model fit for a 7-factor structure without Hunger [RMSEA = 0.038 (90% CI:0.035,0.041); CFI = 0.926, TLI = 0.916; and χ2(df = 595) = 8502.69, p < 0.001]. These seven subscales showed acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach’s α > 0.70). The ICC for the test–retest was above 0.70. Comparisons with the DEBQ supported the convergent validity of the AEBQ. Older age was associated with greater Food Responsiveness and Enjoyment of Food (all p-values < 0.005). Females reported higher levels of Emotional Over-Eating, Satiety Responsiveness, and Slowness in Eating than males (all p-values ≤ 0.003).ConclusionThis study supports the use of the 7-factor AEBQ as a reliable measure of appetitive traits in adolescents.

Highlights

Appetitive traits, including Food Responsiveness, Enjoyment of Food, Satiety Responsiveness, Emotional Over- and Under-Eating, Food Fussiness and Slowness in Eating, have been captured across childhood using the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ)
This study supports the use of the 7-factor Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire (AEBQ) as a reliable measure of appetitive traits in adolescents
According to the Behavioral Susceptibility Theory (BST) of obesity (Carnell and Wardle, 2007; Llewellyn and Wardle, 2015), appetitive traits, such as Food Responsiveness [i.e., the tendency to eat in response to food cues such as the sight and smell of food] (Carnell and Wardle, 2008) and Satiety Responsiveness (Wardle et al, 2001; Carnell and Wardle, 2008) contribute to individual differences in energy intake, and weight status

Summary

Introduction

Appetitive traits, including Food Responsiveness, Enjoyment of Food, Satiety Responsiveness, Emotional Over- and Under-Eating, Food Fussiness and Slowness in Eating, have been captured across childhood using the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ). Research indicates that appetitive traits are moderately stable during childhood (Ashcroft et al, 2008; Steinsbekk and Wichstrøm, 2015; Steinsbekk et al, 2017), and that Food Approach traits tend to increase while Food Avoidance traits tend to decrease with age (Ashcroft et al, 2008) This suggests that children tend to keep their relative position in the appetite hierarch over time, but on the whole the internal regulation of eating behaviors declines as children mature (i.e., intake is increasingly affected by external factors). Adolescence is the major formative transition period for one of the most decisive behaviors for adult health—healthy eating behavior

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion