Validation of an instrument of self-efficacy for the prevention of obesity in school children

Abstract

The objective of this study was to adapt and evaluate, from a psychometric perspective, an instrument aimed at measuring self-efficacy and weight control in elementary school children. Through cognitive laboratories, the items of the original instrument are adapted for children of school age, and subsequently validated by a panel of judges. This version of the instrument was applied to 1151 participants, girls and boys of between 8 and 13 years old (M = 10.2, SD = 0.98), and examined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA derived a four-factor structure, with 25 items (α = 0.90), while the CFA derived a three factor model, with 20 items (α = 0.88), which showed a good fit (X2/gl = 2.47, AGFI = 0.95, NFI = 0.93, CFI = 0.95, GFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.03, 90% [IC 034-0.042]). A parsimonious instrument with acceptable internal validity and consistency was obtained, which allows to measure three basic components of self-efficacy relative to the prevention of overweight, which are: physical activity, feeding and control over emotional feeding, not addressed in previous instruments.El objetivo de este estudio fue adaptar y evaluar, desde una perspectiva psicométrica, un instrumento dirigido a medir la autoeficacia relativa al control del peso en niños de enseñanza básica. Mediante laboratorios cognoscitivos, los ítems del instrumento original se adaptaron para su uso en niños de edad escolar, y posteriormente fueron validados por un panel de jueces. Esta versión del instrumento fue aplicada a 1,151 participantes, mujeres y varones, de entre 8 y 13 años de edad (M = 10.2, DE = 0.98), y examinada a través de análisis factorial exploratorio y análisis factorial confirmatorio. El análisis factorial exploratorio arrojó una estructura de cuatro factores, con 25 ítems (α = 0.90), mientras que el AFC derivó un modelo de tres factores, con 20 ítems (α = 0.88), el cual mostró buen ajuste (X2/gl = 2.47; AGFI = 0.95; NFI = 0.93; CFI = 0.95; GFI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.03, 90% [IC 034-.042]). Se obtuvo un instrumento parsimonioso, con validez y consistencia interna aceptables, el cual permite medir tres componentes básicos de la autoeficacia relativa a la prevención del sobrepeso, que son: actividad física, alimentación y control sobre la alimentación emocional, aspectos no abordados en instrumentos precedentes