Dietary restraint as values-related motivation: a psychometric clarification

Psychological motivation toward dietary restraint can be measured by Cognitive Restraint, a subscale on the Three-factor Questionnaire (TFQ; Stunkard & Messick, 1985), and Drive for Thinness, a subscale on the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI; Garner & Olmstead, 1984). On the basis of data obtained from American undergraduates, these two scales correlated significantly (r = .55); three value scales on the Eating Values Survey (EVS; Simmons, 1989) also correlated significantly with both Cognitive Restraint and Drive for Thinness (Appearance and Manners positively, Enthusiasm negatively). Correlations of other TFQ and EDI scales with values were minimal. Personal values specific to eating are discussed as components of a general motivational orientation toward self-management of eating but as relatively unrelated to such disruptive attributes of eating behavior as disinhibition or bulimia.