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The positive eating scale: relationship with objective health parameters and validity in Germany,the USA and India |
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| Authors: | Gudrun Sproesser Verena Klusmann Matthew B. Ruby Naomi Arbit Paul Rozin Harald T. Schupp |
| Affiliation: | 1. Psychological Assessment and Health Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany;2. Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA;3. Department of Nutrition, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA;4. General Psychology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany |
| Abstract: | Objective: The prevailing focus regarding eating behaviour is on restriction, concern, worry and pathology. In contrast, the purpose of the present studies was to focus on a positive relationship with eating in non-clinical samples from Germany, the USA and India. Design: In Study 1, the Positive Eating Scale (PES) was tested and validated in a large longitudinal sample (T1: N = 772; T2: N = 510). In Study 2, the PES was tested in online samples from the USA, India and Germany (total N = 749). Main Outcome Measures: Health risk status was measured in Study 1 with objective health parameters (fasting serum glucose, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure, waist circumference, BMI). Results: Study 1 revealed acceptable psychometric properties of the PES, internal consistency (α = .87), as well as test–retest reliability after six months (r = .67). Importantly, a positive relationship with eating was associated with decreased health risk factors six months later. In Study 2, the structure of the PES was confirmed for German, Indian and US-American adults, suggesting validity across remarkably different eating environments. Conclusion: A positive relationship with eating might be a fruitful starting point for prevention and intervention programmes promoting physical and psychological health. |
| Keywords: | assessment cross-country validity normal eating objective health parameters positive relationship with eating |