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Development and Validation of an Eating-Related Eco-Concern Questionnaire

2022; Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute; Volume: 14; Issue: 21 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3390/nu14214517

2072-6643

Baiyu Qi, Emily K. Presseller, Gabrielle E. Cooper, Avantika Kapadia, Alexis S. Dumain, Shantal Jayawickreme, Emily Bulik-Sullivan, Eric F. van Furth, Laura M. Thornton, Cynthia M. Bulik, Melissa A. Munn‐Chernoff,

Environmental Sustainability in Business

Eco-concern, the distress experienced relating to climate change, is associated with mental health, yet no study has examined disordered eating related to eco-concern. This study developed and validated a 10-item scale assessing Eating-Related Eco-Concern (EREC). Participants (n = 224) completed the EREC, Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS), and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Construct validity, convergent validity, and internal consistency were evaluated. Sex differences in EREC were evaluated using t-tests. Associations among the EREC, CCWS, and EDE-Q were evaluated using linear regression models. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in individuals below EDE-Q global score clinical cut-offs. Factor analysis suggested that all items loaded adequately onto one factor. Pearson's correlation and Bland-Altman analyses suggested strong correlation and acceptable agreement between the EREC and CCWS (r = 0.57), but weak correlation and low agreement with the EDE-Q global score (r = 0.14). The EREC had acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.88). No sex difference was observed in the EREC in the full sample; females had a significantly higher mean score than males in sensitivity analysis. The EREC was significantly positively associated with the CCWS and EDE-Q global and shape concern scores, but not in sensitivity analysis. The EREC is a brief, validated scale that can be useful to screen for eating-related eco-concern.