Validity and reliability of Food–Mood Questionnaire (FMQ)
Abstract
Background:
The need for short and validated questionnaires to evaluate dietary patterns (DPs) and mental distress in clinical and research settings is increasing.
Aim:
The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a Food–Mood Questionnaire (FMQ) to assess DPs in relation to mental distress.
Method:
A standard validation protocol that included item development, pilot–testing, test–retesting, and a series of statistical validation analyses was used. Content, face, internal, construct and external validity as well as reliability were confirmed. Content and face validity were evaluated qualitatively.
Results:
Principal component analysis (PCA) for construct validity generated five sub-scales which reflected internal consistency (Cronbach’s α > 0.70) and internal reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient ranged between 0.619 and 0.884; p < 0.01; confidence interval 95%). External validity was also confirmed. A total of 563 participants from four different continents completed the survey online. PCA generated five different subscales. Mental distress was associated with regular consumption of fast-food, a DP known to induce anxiety and depression.
Conclusion:
The FMQ is a validated and a reliable tool with many potential applications that could be used with prophylactic and therapeutic approaches.
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Article first published online: September 10, 2019
Issue published: December 2019
Keywords
PubMed: 31500499
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LB conceived the study and wrote the manuscript. MC collected all data and contributed to partial data analysis. RM contributed to data organization and further data analysis. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.
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