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Health Education Research Advance Access originally published online on December 15, 2008
Health Education Research 2009 24(4):586-595; doi:10.1093/her/cyn059
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© The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org

Measurement characteristics of dietary psychosocial scales in a Weight Gain Prevention Study with 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls

D. A. Sherrill-Mittleman*,1, L. M. Klesges1, J. Q. Lanctot1, M. B. Stockton2 and R. C. Klesges1,3

1 Department of Epidemiology and Cancer Control, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
2 Department of Health and Sport Sciences, The University of Memphis, 633 Normal Street, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
3 Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 66 North Pauline Street, Memphis, TN 38163, USA

* Correspondence to: D.A. Sherrill-Mittleman. E-mail: deborah.mittleman{at}stjude.org

Few measurement instruments for children's eating behaviors and beliefs have been specifically validated for African-American children. Validation within this population is important because of potential cultural and ethnic influences. Objectives were to evaluate established and newly developed or adapted dietary psychosocial measures in a sample of 303 preadolescent African-American girls and their caregivers. Acceptable internal consistency (Cronbach's {alpha} ≥ 0.70) was found for measures of girls’ self-efficacy for healthy eating, outcome expectancies for healthy eating, positive family support for healthy eating and household availability of low-fat food and fruit, juice and vegetables (FJV). Evidence for concurrent validity was found with significant associations between self-efficacy for healthy eating and lower intake of energy (r = –0.17) and fat grams (r = –0.16). Greater FJV availability was associated with greater FJV intake (r = 0.14) and lower body mass index (BMI) in girls (r = –0.12). Positive family support for healthy eating was associated with higher BMI in girls (r = 0.41). These results contribute to the development of scales to evaluate prevention interventions related to dietary intake in African-American children.

Received on January 24, 2008; accepted on October 15, 2008


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