Psychometric properties of the three factor eating questionnaire in healthcare personnel

Abstract

Introduction: The increase in prevalence of eating disorders in the population has brought with it an interest in evaluating the nutritional patterns of the adult population in order to increase individual health and wellbeing. Objectives: To analyze the Three Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) in order to find out if it is a valid model for adult populations without any eating pathology in different cultures and societies by analyzing its psychometric properties and structure and proposing the best version or model for application to healthcare professionals, specifically in nursing. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive analysis was done in a sample of adult nurses with no food pathology. Nine hundred and eighty-three working nurses aged 22 to 57 were selected. The 18-item version of the TFEQ was used. Results: The 18-item model with three factors showed the best fit (χ2/gl = 4,594; CFI = 0.945; TLI = 0.935; RMSEA = 0.061). The ΔCFI between model 1 (whole base model) and the rest of the models was 0.004, so configural, metric, scalar and strict invariance is accepted. Conclusions: The results described show the validity and consistency of the TFEQ as an instrument in the scope of adults with no pathology working in healthcare, specifically nursing, for evaluating eating behavior, and not exclusively for diagnosis, but also for intervention at the governmental and organizational level.