The eating motivations scale (EATMOT): Development and validation by means of confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and structural equation modelling (SEM)

Abstract

IntroductionThe objective was to develop and validate an instrument that measures different determinants of people’s food choices and simultaneously accounts for a variety of factors: health, emotions, price and availability, society and culture, environment and politics, and marketing and advertising.MethodsThis is a cross-sectional study focusing on food choice determinants. It was carried out in 16 countries in 2017 and 2018. This study included 11,960 volunteer adult participants from different countries. The data was validated using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM).ResultsValidation using CFA with SEM revealed that multi-factor modelling produced first- and second-order models that could be used to define the EATMOT scale, the first presenting better fitting indices, with the goodness-of-fit and comparative-fit indices very close to 1, as well as root-mean-square-error-of-approximation, root-mean-square-residual and standardised-root-mean-square-residual at practically zero.ConclusionThe validated EATMOT scale guarantees confidence in the information obtained through this instrument, and can be used in future studies to better understand food choice determinants in different geographical areas and help plan strategies to improve healthy eating patterns and diminish the burden of non-communicable diseases.

Measuring and Leveraging Motives and Values in Dietary Interventions

“…Recently developed by Raquel et al, the Eating Motivations Scale (EATMOT) provides a variety of determinants for people’s food choices, including health, emotions, price and availability, society and culture, environment and politics, and marketing and advertising [ 26 ]. The study was carried out in 16 countries from 2017 to 2018 and involved nearly 12,000 adult volunteers from various sociodemographic backgrounds.…”

“…The final scale includes 20 questions that assess six categories of eating motives, making the measure short but useful. The scale contains items on health aspects, emotional status, economic and availability motivations, social and cultural influences, environmental and political determinants, and marketing and advertising [ 26 ]. The EATMOT scale provides information on general food motives that are not specific to certain groups or FMVs.…”

“…The EATMOT Scale, the FCQ, and the FCV are the most encompassing tools [ 22 , 26 , 30 ]. Although each measure has distinctive benefits and drawbacks, the FCQ developed by Steptoe et al, the modified version with FCVs conceived by Lylerly and Renner, and the EATMOT Scale are perhaps the most applicable measures for food choice motives, encompassing a variety of different food choice motives for everyday life [ 22 , 25 ].…”

Validation of the Scale Knowledge and Perceptions about Edible Insects through Structural Equation Modelling

“…Pearson's linear correlation coefficient (r) was calculated for each paired item versus the overall score without that item. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure internal consistency [25], and McDonald's omega (ω) was also used to measure global consistency [40].…”

“…A high number of studies have shown that, for example, in European countries, there is a low propensity to consume EIs [3,10,11,[14][15][16]. In countries where EIs are not part of the traditional diet, there is a reluctance to eat them because people associate them with unfamiliar foods and negative emotions [17,[25][26][27][28]. Eating habits and food choices are dissimilar around the world.…”