Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Psychometrics and Associations With Child and Parent Variables.
OBJECTIVE
The factor structure and validity of the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS; Crist & Napier-Phillips, 2001) were examined in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).


METHODS
Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the original BPFAS five-factor model, the fit of each latent variable, and a rival one-factor model. None of the models was adequate, thus a categorical exploratory factor analysis (CEFA) was conducted. Correlations were used to examine relations between the BPFAS and concurrent variables of interest.


RESULTS
The CEFA identified an acceptable three-factor model. Correlational analyses indicated that feeding problems were positively related to parent-reported autism symptoms, behavior problems, sleep problems, and parenting stress, but largely unrelated to performance-based indices of autism symptom severity, language, and cognitive abilities, as well as child age.


CONCLUSIONS
These results provide evidence supporting the use of the identified BPFAS three-factor model for samples of young children with ASD.
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Stephanie L
SL
Allen
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University isabel.smith@iwk.nshealth.ca.
Isabel M
IM
Smith
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Eric
E
Duku
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Tracy
T
Vaillancourt
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Peter
P
Szatmari
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Susan
S
Bryson
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Eric
E
Fombonne
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Joanne
J
Volden
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Charlotte
C
Waddell
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Lonnie
L
Zwaigenbaum
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Wendy
W
Roberts
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Pat
P
Mirenda
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Teresa
T
Bennett
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Mayada
M
Elsabbagh
Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
Stelios
S
Georgiades
D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000523:psychology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D019959:Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010372:Pediatrics; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*
assessment; autism spectrum; eating and feeding disorders.