title: The Validity and reliability of the Comprehensive Home Environment Survey (CHES).
abstract: Few comprehensive measures exist to assess contributors to childhood obesity within the home, specifically among low-income populations. The current study describes the modification and psychometric testing of the Comprehensive Home Environment Survey (CHES), an inclusive measure of the home food, physical activity, and media environment related to childhood obesity. The items were tested for content relevance by an expert panel and piloted in the priority population. The CHES was administered to low-income parents of children 5 to 17 years (N = 150), including a subsample of parents a second time and additional caregivers to establish test-retest and interrater reliabilities. Children older than 9 years (n = 95), as well as parents (N = 150) completed concurrent assessments of diet and physical activity behaviors (predictive validity). Analyses and item trimming resulted in 18 subscales and a total score, which displayed adequate internal consistency (α = .74-.92) and high test-retest reliability (r ≥ .73, ps < .01) and interrater reliability (r ≥ .42, ps < .01). The CHES score and a validated screener for the home environment were correlated (r = .37, p < .01; concurrent validity). CHES subscales were significantly correlated with behavioral measures (r = -.20-.55, p < .05; predictive validity). The CHES shows promise as a valid/reliable assessment of the home environment related to childhood obesity, including healthy diet and physical activity.
authors.affiliation: 1Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: Courtney A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Pinard
authors.forename: Amy L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Yaroch
authors.forename: Michael H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Hart
authors.forename: Elena L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Serrano
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McFerren
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Estabrooks
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004777:Environment; D015444:Exercise; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010290:Parents; D063766:Pediatric Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011203:Poverty; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
keywords: childhood obesity; home environment; measurement