title: Measuring the meanings of eating in minority youth.
abstract: The aim of this study is to present the development of the Meanings of Eating Index (MEI) in a diverse sample of children. Exploratory factor analysis was performed on MEI items. Factors with eigenvalues above 1.0 were retained. Items that loaded on multiple factors or with item-total correlations below 0.50 were discarded. A 24-item, 5-factor scale comprised the final MEI. Personal Negative Emotions and Disturbed Eating were positively associated with frequency of high calorie snack food intake (r=0.21, p<0.05; r=0.33, p<0.01), and Personal Well Being was positively associated with eating vegetables more frequently (r=0.20; p<0.05). Eating on Behalf of Others was negatively associated with frequency of vegetable intake (r=-.20; p<0.05). Pleasure Eating was not associated with dietary intake. The MEI shows promise as a tool for understanding the affective determinants of dietary intake in minority youth.
authors: Institute for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, United States. arianna.mcclain@stanford.edu
authors: Arianna D
authors: AD
authors: McClain
authors: Mary Ann
authors: MA
authors: Pentz
authors: Selena T
authors: ST
authors: Nguyen-Rodriguez
authors: Hee-Sung
authors: HS
authors: Shin
authors: Nathaniel R
authors: NR
authors: Riggs
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Spruijt-Metz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000339:Affect; D002140:California; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004435:Eating / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*