Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 39, Issue 5, Supplement , Pages S167-S170, September 2007

Reliability of the ecSatter Inventory as a Tool to Measure Eating Competence

  • Jodi L. Stotts, MS

      Affiliations

    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress for correspondence: Jodi Stotts, MS, Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, 135 East Nittany Avenue, Suite 405, State College, PA 16801; Phone: (814) 865-7629; Fax: (814) 865-9046
    • ,
  • Barbara Lohse, PhD, RD

Department of Nutritional Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania.

Abstract 

Objective

To examine the reliability of the ecSatter Inventory (ecSI), a measure of eating competence.

Design

Self-report questionnaires were administered in person or by mail. Retesting occurred 2 to 6 weeks after completion of the first questionnaire.

Participants

Both administrations of the questionnaire were completed by 259 participants who were mostly food secure, white females with some college education; mean age was 26.9 ± 10.4 years.

Measures

Test-retest reliability and internal consistency.

Analysis

Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients to estimate test-retest reliability and Cronbach alpha coefficients to estimate internal consistency.

Results

Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient for ecSI total score was 0.68; subscale coefficients were 0.70 for eating attitudes, 0.70 for contextual skills, 0.65 for food acceptance, and 0.52 for internal regulation. Cronbach alpha coefficient for ecSI total score was 0.77. Subscale alphas coefficients were 0.80 for eating attitudes, 0.69 for contextual skills, 0.68 for food acceptance, and 0.66 for internal regulation.

Conclusions and Implications

This study provides psychometric evidence about the reliability of ecSI as a measure of eating competence in this sample. Although some ecSI items may require revision, results suggest that the instrument may be used to evaluate nutrition education designed to improve eating competence.

Key Words: eating competence, reliability, food behavior, psychometric testing

To access this article, please choose from the options below

Login to an existing account or Register a new account.

  • Purchase this article for 25.00 USD (You must login/register to purchase this article)

    Online access for 24 hours. The PDF version can be downloaded as your permanent record.

  • Subscribe to this title

    Get unlimited online access to this article and all other articles in this title 24/7 for one year.

  • Claim access now

    For current subscribers with Society Membership or Account Number.

  • Visit SciVerse ScienceDirect to see if you have access via your institution.
 

 This study was funded by USDA/Food and Nutrition Service through PENNSYLVANIA NUTRITION EDUCATION TRACKS as part of Food Stamp Nutrition Education.An author of this article (Lohse), is also the Guest Editor for this issue, and is on the JNEB staff as Associate Editor, Research, Reports and GEMs. Review of this article was handled, exclusively, by the Editor-in-Chief to minimize conflict of interest.

PII: S1499-4046(07)00288-6

doi:10.1016/j.jneb.2007.03.091

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior
Volume 39, Issue 5, Supplement , Pages S167-S170, September 2007

Article Tools