Frontiers in Psychology (Apr 2019)

Validation of the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire in 5 and 6 Year-Old Children: The GUSTO Cohort Study

  • Phaik Ling Quah,
  • Lisa R. Fries,
  • Mei Jun Chan,
  • Anna Fogel,
  • Keri McCrickerd,
  • Ai Ting Goh,
  • Izzuddin M. Aris,
  • Izzuddin M. Aris,
  • Yung Seng Lee,
  • Yung Seng Lee,
  • Yung Seng Lee,
  • Wei Wei Pang,
  • Iccha Basnyat,
  • Hwee Lin Wee,
  • Hwee Lin Wee,
  • Fabian Yap,
  • Keith M. Godfrey,
  • Yap-Seng Chong,
  • Yap-Seng Chong,
  • Lynette P. C. Shek,
  • Lynette P. C. Shek,
  • Kok Hian Tan,
  • Ciaran G. Forde,
  • Ciaran G. Forde,
  • Mary F. F. Chong,
  • Mary F. F. Chong,
  • Mary F. F. Chong

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00824
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10

Abstract

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Revised subscales of the Children’s Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) have been proposed to be more appropriate for assessing appetitive traits in Singaporean 3 year-olds, but the CEBQ has not yet been validated in older children in this population. The current study aimed to validate the CEBQ at ages 5 (n = 653) and 6 (n = 449) in the ethnically diverse GUSTO cohort. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) examined whether the established eight-factor model of the CEBQ was supported in this sample. Overall, the CFA showed a poor model fit at both ages 5 and 6. At both ages 5 and 6, an exploratory factor analysis revealed a six-factor structure: food fussiness, enjoyment of food, slowness in eating, emotional undereating, emotional overeating and desire to drink. Cronbach’s alpha estimates ranged from 0.70 to 0.85 for all subscales. Criterion validity was tested by correlating subscales with the weight status of 6 years of age. At age 5 and 6, lower scores of slowness of eating while higher scores of enjoyment of food was associated with child overweight. At age 6, higher scores of desire to drink was also associated child overweight. In conclusion, a revised six factor-structure of the CEBQ at ages 5 and 6 were more appropriate for examining appetitive traits in this sample.

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