Psychometric properties and convergent and divergent validity of the Portuguese yale food addiction scale 2.0 (P-YFAS 2.0)

Abstract

Purpose The construct of food addiction has been gaining increased attention as a research topic. Currently, the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0 is the only measure to operationalize the addictive-like eating behavior according to addiction criteria proposed by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. The present study aimed at examining the psychometric properties of the Portuguese version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0, as well as investigating the convergent and divergent validity between this scale and the following measures: Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire, Body Investment Scale, and Diculties in Emotion Regulation Scale. We also sought to explore the moderator role of diculties in emotion regulation in the relationship between food addiction and binge eating. Methods: A sample of 302 female college students (Mage = 21.37, SD= 3.24) completed selfreport measures. Results Sixteen (5.3%) participants were diagnosed as having food addiction. The conrmatory factor analysis suggested that the original onedimensional structure is adequate to represent the Portuguese Yale Food Addiction Scale 2.0. The symptom count scores of the scale were correlated with body mass index, eating disordered behavior, body investment and diculties in emotion regulation. The severity level of the scale also discriminated the severity of eating disordered behaviors, body investment and diculties in emotion regulation. Finally, the relationship between food addiction and binge eating was moderated by diculties engaging in goal-directed behavior when experiencing negative emotions. Conclusion The Portuguese version of the Yale Food Addiction Questionnaire 2.0 may be a useful tool to investigate food addiction.