Validation of the Eating Pattern Inventory for Children in a General Population Sample of 11- to 12-Year-Old Children

Abstract

Previous research suggests that the Eating Pattern Inventory for Children (EPI-C) is best conceptualized as comprising four factors: dietary restraint, emotional, external eating and parental pressure to eat. This study aims to examine the psychometric properties of the EPI-C and to test gender and weight group differences. The population-based study sample comprised 1,939 children aged 11 to 12 years from the Copenhagen Child Cohort (CCC2000). Psychometric properties were evaluated using multigroup categorical data in confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and differential item functioning (DIF) tests. CFA supported the four-factor solution for the EPI-C. Reliability estimates were satisfactory for three of the four scales. DIF with regard to weight was found for an item on weight loss intention. Girls reported higher restrained and emotional eating; overweight children reported higher restrained, emotional and external eating, while underweight children reported higher parental pressure to eat. The results support the use of EPI-C for measuring eating behaviors in preadolescence.

Keywords

eating behaviors CCC2000 preadolescence EPI-C validity psychometrics

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