Self-Efficacy to Regulate Eating Behaviors Scale for Children: A Validation Study

Cátia Silva, Beatriz Pereira, Gabriela Figueiredo, Pedro Rosário, José Carlos Núñez and Paula Magalhães ()
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Cátia Silva: Department of Applied Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-052 Braga, Portugal
Beatriz Pereira: Department of Applied Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-052 Braga, Portugal
Gabriela Figueiredo: Department of Applied Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-052 Braga, Portugal
Pedro Rosário: Department of Applied Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-052 Braga, Portugal
José Carlos Núñez: Department of Psychology, University of Oviedo, 33003 Oviedo, Spain
Paula Magalhães: Department of Applied Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-052 Braga, Portugal

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 4, 1-11

Abstract: Self-efficacy has a strong influence on children’s eating behavior. Feeling capable of regulating one’s eating behavior is especially relevant in situations of activation while facing temptations or experiencing negative emotions. Despite the relevance, there is no validated measure to assess children’s self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors in these domains. The present study examines the psychometric properties of the Self-Efficacy to Regulate Eating Behaviors Scale for Children based on a sample of 724 elementary school children in Portugal. The sample was split randomly into two groups, and a principal component analysis with Group 1 and a confirmatory factor analysis with Group 2 were carried out. The scale comprises two distinct but related factors—self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors in activation and temptation situations and self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors in negative emotional situations. Moreover, self-efficacy to regulate eating behaviors was positively and statistically related to self-regulation processes toward healthy eating, declarative knowledge about healthy eating, and attitudes and perceptions toward healthy eating. The present study provides preliminary evidence that the Self-Efficacy to Regulate Eating Behaviors Scale for Children is valid and reliable for evaluating children’s self-efficacy in regulating their eating behaviors.

Keywords: self-efficacy; self-regulation; eating behavior; food temptations; negative emotions; children; validation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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