INVESTIGATION OF THE PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES OF THE PLATE CLEARING TENDENCY SCALE (T-PCTS) IN TURKISH ADULTS

Abstract

It is thought that the tendency to finish all the food on the plate (plate clearing tendency) is a behavior that can be frequently observed in individuals and may increase the frequency of obesity. It was aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Plate Clearing Tendency Scale (PCTS), which was developed to evaluate individual differences in plate clearing tendency, in a sample of Turkish individuals. The study was conducted with 333 adults (32.7% male, 67.3% female) aged between 19 and 64 years (mean 32.4±11.5). Individuals completed the questionnaire online. Validity and reliability analyses were conducted for the Turkish version of the plate cleaning tendency scale (T-PCTS). Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the factor structure of the T-PCTS, and reliability analyses and Spearman correlations were also examined. The one-factor structure of the T-PCTS showed good model fit and had acceptable internal reliability (Cronbach alpha and McDonald Omega ≥0.70). No relationship was found between T-PCTS and food cravings and its sub-factors (p>0.05). A negative and non-significant relationship was found between total T-PCTS score and body mass index (r=-0.022, p>0.05). T-PCTS is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring plate clearing tendency in Turkish adults. The tendency to clean the plate was not affected by immediate situations that guide eating behavior such as food cravings. Considering that long-term negative eating behaviors are effective in the emergence of obesity, the tendency to clean the plate may be shaped by past eating behaviors and may provide a new perspective on obesity management.