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. 2022 Oct 27;14(21):4517.
doi: 10.3390/nu14214517.

Development and Validation of an Eating-Related Eco-Concern Questionnaire

Baiyu Qi  1 , Emily K Presseller  2   3 , Gabrielle E Cooper  4 , Avantika Kapadia  5 , Alexis S Dumain  6 , Shantal M Jayawickreme  4 , Emily C Bulik-Sullivan  7   8 , Eric F van Furth  9   10 , Laura M Thornton  4 , Cynthia M Bulik  4   11   12 , Melissa A Munn-Chernoff  4
Affiliations

Development and Validation of an Eating-Related Eco-Concern Questionnaire

Baiyu Qi et al. Nutrients. .

Abstract

Eco-concern, the distress experienced relating to climate change, is associated with mental health, yet no study has examined disordered eating related to eco-concern. This study developed and validated a 10-item scale assessing Eating-Related Eco-Concern (EREC). Participants (n = 224) completed the EREC, Climate Change Worry Scale (CCWS), and Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Construct validity, convergent validity, and internal consistency were evaluated. Sex differences in EREC were evaluated using t-tests. Associations among the EREC, CCWS, and EDE-Q were evaluated using linear regression models. Sensitivity analyses were conducted in individuals below EDE-Q global score clinical cut-offs. Factor analysis suggested that all items loaded adequately onto one factor. Pearson's correlation and Bland-Altman analyses suggested strong correlation and acceptable agreement between the EREC and CCWS (r = 0.57), but weak correlation and low agreement with the EDE-Q global score (r = 0.14). The EREC had acceptable internal consistency (α = 0.88). No sex difference was observed in the EREC in the full sample; females had a significantly higher mean score than males in sensitivity analysis. The EREC was significantly positively associated with the CCWS and EDE-Q global and shape concern scores, but not in sensitivity analysis. The EREC is a brief, validated scale that can be useful to screen for eating-related eco-concern.

Keywords: climate change; eating behaviors; eco-anxiety; mental health; questionnaire development.

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Conflict of interest statement

C.M.B. reports: Shire (grant recipient, Scientific Advisory Board member); Lundbeckfonden (grant recipient); Pearson (author, royalty recipient); Equip Health Inc. (Clinical Advisory Board). All other authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Bland-Atman plot for (a) the EREC scale and the CCWS and (b) the EREC scale (%) and the EDEQ global score (%).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Scatter plots for the association between (a) climate change worry with eating-related eco-concern; (b) EDE-Q global score with eating-related eco-concern; and (c) shape concern with eating-related eco-concern. Grey area represents 95% confidence interval.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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