Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS) in Mexican youths.

Abstract

To validate a culturally sensitive adaptation of the NIAS instrument and evaluate its psychometric properties in Mexican youths. The sample consisted of 800 participants aged 12-30 (M=18.56, SD=3.52) from Mexico City and Hidalgo public educational institutions. The S-NIAS obtained a Cronbach's alpha of 0.84, adequate construct validity adjustment rates: CMIN=1.88; GFI=0.97; AGFI=0.94; CFI=0.98; RMR=0.050; and RMSEA=0.047. Measurement invariance by gender, age, and survey administration which show that construct is understood in the same way across both groups and despite the change from paper-and-pencil to online survey administration. The psychometric properties of the Spanish Nine Item ARFID Screen (S-NIAS) indicate that it is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating symptoms associated with ARFID in this sample of youths. Although there are advances in studying ARFID, their epidemiological data comes mainly from a few countries. Furthermore, these data are scarcer due to the lack of validated screening and assessment instruments available in a variety of world languages; having instruments for the evaluation of ARFID symptoms is essential because it could function as an auxiliary means for the detection and prevention of people at risk.