Cross-cultural adaptation and evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Emotional Appetite Questionnaire among Portuguese-speaking women

Abstract Obesity and its determinants have been the topic of broad research. Emotional appetite, defined as the tendency to overeat in response to negative emotions, is among these determinants. Some instruments were created to measure this construct, the Emotional Appetite Questionnaire (EMAQ) being one of them. The objective of this study was to perform cross-cultural adaptation and evaluation of psychometric properties of EMAQ among Portuguese-speaking women. Methodological research was carried out by translation, back-translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the instrument. A study was conducted with 450 women, through cross-cultural adaptation and evaluation of the instrument’s psychometric properties (validity and reliability). The internal consistency of the instrument was measured using Cronbach’s Alpha and stability was checked by means of test-retest. The instrument showed good internal consistency and intraclass correlation. The interviewees did not mention changes in food consumption linked to positive emotions and situations. There was a tendency towards reduction in emotional appetite when subjected to negative emotions and situations. The Portuguese EMAQ (QUEAPEM) was considered a reliable instrument, easy to apply and administer, to assess emotional appetite in the Portuguese language.

摘要 肥胖及其影响因素一直是广泛研究的核心议题。情绪性食欲，即个体因负面情绪引发过量进食的行为倾向，属于此类影响因素范畴。目前已有多款用于评估该心理构念的测评工具，情绪性食欲问卷（Emotional Appetite Questionnaire, EMAQ）便是其中之一。本研究旨在针对葡萄牙语人群完成情绪性食欲问卷的跨文化调适，并评估其心理测量学属性。本研究采用方法学研究设计，通过翻译、回译及跨文化调适流程对该问卷进行本土化改造。研究共纳入450名女性受试者，对该问卷的心理测量学属性（效度与信度）开展跨文化调适与验证评估。采用克朗巴赫α系数（Cronbach’s Alpha）评估问卷的内部一致性，通过重测法检验其复测稳定性。结果显示，该问卷具备良好的内部一致性与组内相关系数。受访对象未提及与正向情绪及情境相关的饮食行为改变。在面对负面情绪与情境时，受试者的情绪性食欲呈现降低趋势。最终形成的葡萄牙语版情绪性食欲问卷（QUEAPEM）被认为是一款信度良好、易于施测与管理的测评工具，可用于葡萄牙语人群的情绪性食欲评估。