Brazil is undergoing a rapid nutrition transition with unfavorable effects on dietary healthiness. To counteract this trend, knowledge about individual drivers of consumption is needed that go beyond environmental factors. The Eating Motivation Survey represents a comprehensive measure of such individual drivers, assessing 15 eating motives, such as choosing food for health reasons or eating because of a good taste. The aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties and validity of a Brazilian Portuguese version of The Eating Motivation Survey. In total, 442 participants from the general adult population living in the state of São Paulo, Brazil filled in an online survey. Results showed that the model, including 15 motive factors and 45 items, had a reasonable model fit. Moreover, factor loadings and corrected item-scale correlations were generally good. Fourteen out of the 15 motive scales had a reliability above 0.60. Results also confirmed convergent validity. These results demonstrate that the Brazilian Portuguese version of The Eating Motivation Survey is generally reliable and valid to assess individual drivers of eating behavior in Brazil.

AGRADECIMENTOSÀ minha mãe, Maria José, por ser aquela que disse sim bravamente a minha vida. Que ama, cuida, acredita onde posso chegar e investe. Que é meu ponto de partida, certeza de que não estou só no durante e a primeira a quem dedico minhas conquistas na chegada.Admiração, gratidão e amor eterno por ti.À minha orientadora, Marle Alvarenga, pelos votos de confiança e oportunidades. Pela forma gentil e tão efetiva de orientar. Obrigada por ter feito valer a pena sair de tão longe para me inspirar e aprender de perto contigo. Me sinto extremamente privilegiada por ser tua orientanda e que eu tenha a sorte dessa honra em muitos trabalhos futuros.Às queridas Amália Bastos, Mônica Batalha, Vivian Ferraz e Roberta Miranda pela generosa ajuda com a coleta dos meus dados. Vocês me ajudaram na etapa mais exaustiva da minha pesquisa e a minha gratidão é genuína.À minha irmã, sobrinho, família e amigos de São Luís, que virtualmente se fizeram presente durante esses dois anos. Em especial à Patrícia Nunes pela prontidão em me socorrer e pelas visitas sagradas. E Amanda Coimbra e Mônica Batalha que me entenderam e ajudaram a dar um pulo em São Luís numa época dolorosa.Às amigas que ganhei em São Paulo: Kamila Gabe, Natalie Dantas, Cláudia Tramontt, Bianca Salvador, Naiá Ortelan e Isabela Gerdes por todos os momentos de diversão compartilhados. Em especial à Natasha França pelo coração generoso, pela troca de tantas bobagens e por toda atenção e paciência em todas as crises que passei, incluindo as não acadêmicas. Mais que pelos sábios conselhos, obrigada por ter sido ombro e ouvidos que eu sabia poder contar.

Resumo QUESTÕES METODOLÓGICAS METhodologiCAl iSSuESEste é um artigo publicado em acesso aberto (Open Access) sob a licença Creative Commons Attribution, que permite uso, distribuição e reprodução em qualquer meio, sem restrições, desde que o trabalho original seja corretamente citado.

No abstract

In most Western countries, children and adolescents do not eat the recommended amount of fruits and vegetables (FVs). Theoretical frameworks on social psychology of eating, such as the Reason Action Approach, Social Cognitive Theory, and Theory of Normal Conduct have been applied to understand how psychosocial variables can explain FV intake. However, considering those predictors is still rare on the understanding of FV intake among adolescents (particularly in Brazil) despite its importance within eating behavior. Therefore, this study explored important psychosocial determinants of weekly frequency of FV intake among Brazilian adolescents in a model testing socioeconomic status (SES) and body mass index (BMI). A cross-sectional design was performed with 429 students (58% female), mean age 14.45 (SD 1.86). Key variables of theoretical framework on social psychology of food were investigated by structural equation modeling. The model included self-efficacy, attitudes, and social norms (with its subcomponents descriptive and injunctive) as psychosocial predictors of weekly frequency of FV intake along with SES and BMI. An instrument developed for Brazilian Portuguese was used to collect psychosocial variables as well as to verify FV reported intake. The total model explained 45.5% of weekly frequency of FV intake, and self-efficacy was the only significant psychosocial determinant (λ = 0.51, p = 0.001). SES also showed an important effect on the model (λ = 0.21, p = 0.001), while for BMI no significance was observed. In conclusion, the model was adequate to understand psychosocial determinants of weekly frequency of FV intake for Brazilian adolescents, with self-efficacy and SES as the major determinants of this eating behavior.