Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) in a community sample of adults
Abstract Background No epidemiological data is yet available on Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in Arab countries, which may in part be due to the lack of measures available in Arabic language. This constitutes a major obstacle to further progress of our understanding of the nature...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00874-0 |
| _version_ | 1797454157939998720 |
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| author | Feten Fekih-Romdhane Rabih Hallit Diana Malaeb Fouad Sakr Mariam Dabbous Toni Sawma Sahar Obeid Souheil Hallit |
| author_facet | Feten Fekih-Romdhane Rabih Hallit Diana Malaeb Fouad Sakr Mariam Dabbous Toni Sawma Sahar Obeid Souheil Hallit |
| author_sort | Feten Fekih-Romdhane |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background No epidemiological data is yet available on Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in Arab countries, which may in part be due to the lack of measures available in Arabic language. This constitutes a major obstacle to further progress of our understanding of the nature, aetiology, course, treatment, and prevention of ARFID, especially as some evidence suggested that ARFID may vary across cultures and food environments. We aimed to contribute to the literature in the eating disorders field by examining the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS). Method This was a cross-sectional, web-based study. A total of 515 Lebanese community adults (mean age of 27.55 ± 10.92 years, 69.9% females) participated. The forward–backward method was adopted to translate the NIAS from English to Arabic. Results Confirmatory Factor Analyses provided evidence for the adequate fit indices for the three-factor model (i.e., Picky eating, Fear, and Appetite) and the 9-item version of the NIAS. An adequate reliability of the Arabic NIAS was achieved, with McDonald’s ω ranging from .75 to .90 for the total score and all three subscores. Multi-group analyses demonstrated measurement invariance by sex (males vs. females) and weight groups (underweight/healthy weight [BMI ≤ 25] vs. overweight/obese [BMI > 25]) at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. Adequate patterns of correlations between the NIAS and measures of disordered eating symptoms, psychological distress and well-being were seen. In particular, fear was significantly associated with non-ARFID disordered eating symptoms. Appetite and Picky eating, but not Fear, were inversely correlated with well-being. All three NIAS subscores and the total score were positively correlated with psychological distress. Conclusion Findings provided evidence that the Arabic NIAS is a short, valid and reliable self-report measure to screen for ARFID symptoms. In light of these findings, we recommend its use for clinical and research purposes among Arabic-speaking adults. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:33:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c1fb557292745449771071e94c0d8c9 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-2974 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T15:33:14Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Eating Disorders |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c1fb557292745449771071e94c0d8c92023-11-26T12:06:44ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742023-08-0111111010.1186/s40337-023-00874-0Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) in a community sample of adultsFeten Fekih-Romdhane0Rabih Hallit1Diana Malaeb2Fouad Sakr3Mariam Dabbous4Toni Sawma5Sahar Obeid6Souheil Hallit7The Tunisian Center of Early Intervention in Psychosis, Department of Psychiatry “Ibn Omrane”, Razi HospitalSchool of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of KaslikSchool of Pharmacy, Lebanese International UniversitySchool of Pharmacy, Lebanese International UniversitySchool of Pharmacy, Lebanese International UniversitySchool of Arts and Sciences, Social and Education Sciences Department, Lebanese American UniversitySchool of Arts and Sciences, Social and Education Sciences Department, Lebanese American UniversitySchool of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Holy Spirit University of KaslikAbstract Background No epidemiological data is yet available on Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) in Arab countries, which may in part be due to the lack of measures available in Arabic language. This constitutes a major obstacle to further progress of our understanding of the nature, aetiology, course, treatment, and prevention of ARFID, especially as some evidence suggested that ARFID may vary across cultures and food environments. We aimed to contribute to the literature in the eating disorders field by examining the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS). Method This was a cross-sectional, web-based study. A total of 515 Lebanese community adults (mean age of 27.55 ± 10.92 years, 69.9% females) participated. The forward–backward method was adopted to translate the NIAS from English to Arabic. Results Confirmatory Factor Analyses provided evidence for the adequate fit indices for the three-factor model (i.e., Picky eating, Fear, and Appetite) and the 9-item version of the NIAS. An adequate reliability of the Arabic NIAS was achieved, with McDonald’s ω ranging from .75 to .90 for the total score and all three subscores. Multi-group analyses demonstrated measurement invariance by sex (males vs. females) and weight groups (underweight/healthy weight [BMI ≤ 25] vs. overweight/obese [BMI > 25]) at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. Adequate patterns of correlations between the NIAS and measures of disordered eating symptoms, psychological distress and well-being were seen. In particular, fear was significantly associated with non-ARFID disordered eating symptoms. Appetite and Picky eating, but not Fear, were inversely correlated with well-being. All three NIAS subscores and the total score were positively correlated with psychological distress. Conclusion Findings provided evidence that the Arabic NIAS is a short, valid and reliable self-report measure to screen for ARFID symptoms. In light of these findings, we recommend its use for clinical and research purposes among Arabic-speaking adults.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00874-0ARFIDNIASPicky eatingFearAppetitePsychometric properties |
| spellingShingle | Feten Fekih-Romdhane Rabih Hallit Diana Malaeb Fouad Sakr Mariam Dabbous Toni Sawma Sahar Obeid Souheil Hallit Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) in a community sample of adults Journal of Eating Disorders ARFID NIAS Picky eating Fear Appetite Psychometric properties |
| title | Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) in a community sample of adults |
| title_full | Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) in a community sample of adults |
| title_fullStr | Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) in a community sample of adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) in a community sample of adults |
| title_short | Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) in a community sample of adults |
| title_sort | psychometric properties of an arabic translation of the nine item avoidant restrictive food intake disorder screen nias in a community sample of adults |
| topic | ARFID NIAS Picky eating Fear Appetite Psychometric properties |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-023-00874-0 |
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