title: Development and validation of an Arabic questionnaire to assess psychosocial determinants of eating behavior among adolescents: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: There is a scarcity of studies that evaluate the psychosocial determinants of eating behavior among adolescents in the Eastern Mediterranean region. The availability of such data is limited by the lack of valid culturally appropriate tools. The current study aims to develop and validate an Arabic questionnaire that measures psychosocial determinants of eating behavior among adolescents.
  
  
  
  A cross-sectional study was carried out to validate a five-scale questionnaire developed to measure nutrition-related knowledge, attitude, practices, and self-efficacy and social norms. Content validity was assessed by Lawshe's method, factor analysis was used to assess construct validity, and Cronbach's α was used to test internal consistency. Temporal stability was assessed by test-retest reliability. A random sample of public and private school students participated in the validation study.
  
  
  
  All the five scales demonstrated excellent content validity (content validity ratio, CVR ≥0.778). Factor analysis revealed several dimensions for each scale. Cronbach's α for the identified dimensions or subscales ranged between 0.495 and 0.809 indicating acceptable internal consistency. Cronbach's α for the total scales ranged between 0.759 and 0.836. Test-retest analysis revealed good temporal stability (intraclass correlation, ICC >0.7).
  
  
  
  A psychometrically valid tool to measure psychosocial determinants of eating behavior was developed. This tool can serve as a potential instrument for pretest and impact evaluation of ongoing nutrition education interventions and curricula. Based on results obtained from this tool, efficacious modifications can be instilled for nutrition policies and interventions.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Beirut Arab University, Riad El-Solh, Beirut, 1107 2809, Lebanon. l.itani@bau.edu.lb.|Doctoral School of Literature, Humanities and Social Sciences, Lebanese University, Sin El Fil, Beirut, Lebanon. l.itani@bau.edu.lb.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-3166-4945
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Itani
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Education, Department of Science Education, Lebanese University, Furn El Shebback, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Hanadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chatila
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Chouran, Beirut, 1102 2801, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Hani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dimassi
authors.affiliation: High Institute of Public Health, Alexandria University, 65 St., Al-Horeya Road, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: Fikrat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: El Sahn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior; D018912:Arabs; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011594:Psychometrics; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Attitude; Knowledge; Practices; Psychosocial determinants; Questionnaire; Self-efficacy; Social norms