Date of Award

2011

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in Psychology

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Joseph S. Rossi

Abstract

This study aimed to validate the dietary behavior questionnaire (DBQ) developed by a group of researchers from several different fields including nutrition, nursing and psychology (Rossi et al, 2008) adapted from the work of Kristal and colleagues (Kristal et al, 1990). The new instrument was designed to measure the behavior of dietary fat intake and involved 22 items with 4 theoretical constructs: Substitute, Moderate fat intake, Modify cooking, and Increase healthful foods. This study utilized multiple psychometric techniques including PCA, CF A, factorial invariance comparison (multi-group CFA), MANOVA and ANOVA using data from Rhode Island parents of high school students. The new data correctly replicated the original 4 factor models. The results from factorial invariance comparison using Cheung and Renswold's method suggested that the factor structure, loading pattern as well as covariance structure are invariant between pre-action stage group and post-action stage group and between females and males. All 4 theoretical constructs had adequate Cronbach's alphas (range: 0.62 - 0.77). MANOVA results suggested that the DBQ was correctly discriminated by TTM stages of change. Psychometric findings suggested that the new measurement had good reliability and validity, and is ready for the use in future fat intake research, especially in Transtheoretical model based behavior al research.

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