Psychometric properties and convergent and divergent validity of the Portuguese Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 (P-YFAS 2.0)

Sónia Gonçalves*, Célia S. Moreira, Bárbara C. Machado, Beatriz Bastos, Ana Isabel Vieira

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose: The construct of food addiction has been gaining increased attention as a research topic. Currently, the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 is the only measure to operationalize the addictive-like eating behavior according to addiction criteria proposed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The present study aimed at examining the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, as well as investigating the convergent and divergent validity between this scale and the following measures: Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire, Body Investment Scale, and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. We also sought to explore the moderator role of difficulties in emotion regulation in the relationship between food addiction and binge eating Methods: A sample of 302 female college students (Mage = 21.37, SD = 3.24) completed self-report measures. Results: Sixteen (5.3%) participants were diagnosed as having food addiction. The confirmatory factor analysis suggested that the original one-dimensional structure is adequate to represent the Portuguese Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. The symptom count scores of the scale were correlated with body mass index, eating disordered behavior, body investment, and difficulties in emotion regulation. The severity level of the scale also discriminated the severity of eating disordered behaviors, body investment, and difficulties in emotion regulation. Finally, the relationship between food addiction and binge eating was moderated by difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior when experiencing negative emotions. Conclusion: The Portuguese version of the Yale Food Addiction Questionnaire 2.0 may be a useful tool to investigate food addiction. Level: IV descriptive studies.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)791-801
Number of pages11
JournalEating and Weight Disorders
Volume27
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • Body investment
  • Eating disordered behavior
  • Emotion regulation
  • Food addiction

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