Confirmatory factor analysis of the Child Feeding Questionnaire: a measure of parental attitudes, beliefs and practices about child feeding and obesity proneness.
Journal
  Appetite.
Citation
  Appetite. 36(3):201-10
Publication date
  2001 Jun
Authors
  Birch LL
Fisher JO
Grimm-Thomas K
Markey CN
Sawyer R
Johnson SL
Investigators
  Leann Birch
Grant agencies
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Grants
  NICHD RO1 HD 32973
MeSH headings
  Child Nutrition Physiology
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Obesity
Parent-Child Relations
Parents
MeSH qualifiers
  etiology
psychology
Abstract
  The Child Feeding Questionnaire (CFQ) is a self-report measure to assess parental beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding child feeding, with a focus on obesity proneness in children. Confirmatory factor analysis tested a 7-factor model, which included four factors measuring parental beliefs related to child's obesity proneness, and three factors measuring parental control practices and attitudes regarding child feeding. Using a sample of 394 mothers and fathers, three models were tested, and the third model confirmed an acceptable fit, including correlated factors. Internal consistencies for the seven factors were above 0.70. With minor changes, this same 7-factor model was also confirmed in a second sample of 148 mothers and fathers, and a third sample of 126 Hispanic mothers and fathers. As predicted, four of the seven factors were related to an independent measure of children's weight status, providing initial support for the validity of the instrument. The CFQ can be used to assess aspects of child-feeding perceptions, attitudes, and practices and their relationships to children's developing food acceptance patterns, the controls of food intake, and obesity. The CFQ is designed for use with parents of children ranging in age from about 2 to 11 years of age.
Medline ID
  21257532