Abstract
Food choice has the potential to influence our health, community, social status and self-efficacy. Food involvement is a previously established concept, however, newer areas of focus in the food system (i.e. sustainability and advocacy) are not included in its assessment. To encompass these new aspects, a new “food chain engagement” measure is proposed. We define food chain engagement as the active performance of food-related behaviours along the food chain.
Three studies were conducted to assess the psychometric properties of the measure and validate it. Items were selected from reviewing literature and assessed for face validity by experts. Study 1 included 434 participants from the UK. An Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated a 3-factor structure. Study 2 with 633 participants from the UK used Confirmatory Factor Analysis to confirm the factor structure. Additionally, this study assessed convergent validity with previous measures, which highlighted significant (p < 0.001) correlations for the overall measure and subscales. Furthermore, it showed an excellent internal consistency reliability for the measure (Cronbach’s alpha 0.85). Finally, Study 3 used a subsample of 212 participants from Study 2 to assess temporal stability of the measure and subscales using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients. All subscales and the measure had good temporal stability reliability.
This is the first extensively developed and validated measure for assessing food chain engagement. The measure and subscales can be used to assess the efficacy of food interventions, as well as provide further insight into broader concepts, which may influence food choice, and in turn, diet quality.
Three studies were conducted to assess the psychometric properties of the measure and validate it. Items were selected from reviewing literature and assessed for face validity by experts. Study 1 included 434 participants from the UK. An Exploratory Factor Analysis indicated a 3-factor structure. Study 2 with 633 participants from the UK used Confirmatory Factor Analysis to confirm the factor structure. Additionally, this study assessed convergent validity with previous measures, which highlighted significant (p < 0.001) correlations for the overall measure and subscales. Furthermore, it showed an excellent internal consistency reliability for the measure (Cronbach’s alpha 0.85). Finally, Study 3 used a subsample of 212 participants from Study 2 to assess temporal stability of the measure and subscales using Intraclass Correlation Coefficients. All subscales and the measure had good temporal stability reliability.
This is the first extensively developed and validated measure for assessing food chain engagement. The measure and subscales can be used to assess the efficacy of food interventions, as well as provide further insight into broader concepts, which may influence food choice, and in turn, diet quality.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 104546 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Food quality and preference |
| Volume | 99 |
| Early online date | 05 Feb 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2022 |
Access to Document
- The development and validation of a food chain engagement measurement scale
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