title: The development and preliminary validation of the behavior, environment, and changeability survey (BECS).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop and test the validity of the Behavior, Environment, and Changeability Survey (BECS) for identifying the importance and changeability of nutrition, exercise, and stress management behavior and related aspects of the environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional, online survey of the BECS and selected validated instruments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten state universities.
  
  
  METHODS
  A convenience sample of college students (n = 1,283), ages 18-24 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Principal component analysis was used to confirm a 6-component structure of the BECS in 2 independent samples for the purpose of cross-validation. Internal consistency was measured and construct and criterion-related analyses were conducted to test the reliability and validity of the BECS subscales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six components representing 34 BECS items were revealed from the original 69 items and explained 64% of the total variance. Six scales were retained, and internal consistency of each ranged from α = .82 to .93. BECS Nutrition Behavior and Nutrition Changeability scale scores were highest for participants in action/maintenance Stages of Change for fruit and vegetable intake.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is strong support for the use of the BECS when planning health programs to gain insight into behavior that young adults are willing to improve, specifically related to nutrition, exercise, and sleep.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Maine, Orono, ME, USA. jennifer.r.walsh@maine.edu
authors.forename: Jennifer R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hebert
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Byrd-Bredbenner
authors.forename: Gale
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Carey
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colby
authors.forename: Onikia N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Brown-Esters
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hoerr
authors.forename: Tanya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horacek
authors.forename: Kendra
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kattelmann
authors.forename: Tandalayo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.forename: Mallory
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koenings
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.forename: Karla P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Shelnutt
authors.forename: Adrienne A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult