The factor structure of the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire: A comparison of four models using confirmatory factor analysis

AIMS: The Child Eating Behavior Questionnaire (CEBQ) consists of 8 subscales measuring different aspects of eating behavior and is a widely used instrument in pediatric settings, both in relation to eating disorders and overweight/obesity. However, despite its widespread usage, research results have, to this date, been inconsistent in regard to the factor structure of the CEBQ, with several factorial models suggested. The purpose of this study was to systematically compare the 4 factor structures commonly reported in the literature on the 35‐item CEBQ, using confirmatory factor analysis in the same sample. METHODS AND RESULTS: In total, parents of 560 children aged 5 to 12 years old completed the CEBQ; 70 questionnaires were incomplete, resulting in a final sample of 490. Confirmatory factor analyses tested the 4 competing models: a 6‐factor model, 2 seven‐factor models, and an 8‐factor model. The 8‐factor model provided an acceptable fit to the data and turned out to be the best fitting model. Correlation coefficients between the 8 factors never exceeded r = .77, supporting the construct uniqueness of the 8 subscales. Results also indicated that the CEBQ subscales have good factorial validity and internal reliability (α ≥ .75). CONCLUSION: In summary, this study of Icelandic children supports the appropriateness of using the CEBQ as a measure of 8 distinct dimensions of eating behavior style in school‐aged children.