The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the dieting beliefs scale (DBS)

Salma Yasser Abu-Saleh; Wajiha Irsheid; Hadeel Ghazzawi; Adam Tawfiq Amawi; Seithikurippu R Pandi-Perumal; Khaled Trabelsi; Mary V Seeman; Haitham Jahrami

doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28842

The psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the dieting beliefs scale (DBS)

Heliyon. 2024 Mar 27;10(7):e28842. doi: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e28842. eCollection 2024 Apr 15.

Authors

Salma Yasser Abu-Saleh¹, Wajiha Irsheid², Hadeel Ghazzawi³, Adam Tawfiq Amawi⁴, Seithikurippu R Pandi-Perumal^{5

6}, Khaled Trabelsi^{7

8}, Mary V Seeman⁹, Haitham Jahrami^{10

11}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Jordan.
² Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Agriculture School, The University of Jordan, Jordan.
³ Nutrition and Food Technology Department, Agriculture School, The University of Jordan, P. O. Box 11942 Amman, Jordan.
⁴ Department of Exercise Science and Kinesiology, School of Sport Science, The University of Jordan, Jordan.
⁵ Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India.
⁶ Division of Research and Development, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, 144411, India.
⁷ High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia.
⁸ Research Laboratory: Education, Motricity, Sport and Health, EM2S, LR19JS01, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia.
⁹ Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Canada.
¹⁰ Government Hospitals, Manama, Bahrain.
¹¹ Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain.

Abstract

Background: There are relatively few data about the association between locus of control and weight loss in Arabic populations. A tool does exist, the Dieting Belief Scale (DBS), that was designed to measure individuals' beliefs regarding their ability to control their body weight. The aim of this study was to translate this tool into Arabic and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

Methods: The forward translation of the DBS from English to Arabic was completed by two professional bilingual translators, while the back translation from Arabic to English was independently performed by another two different professional bilingual translators. An online survey using the tool was then completed by 245 participants, fully aware of the study's purpose. Psychometric analyses were subsequently conducted to assess the reliability and validity of the Arabic DBS.Internal consistency was examined using Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω coefficients. Test-retest reliability was also assessed. Confirmatory factor analysis was employed to evaluate the fit of a three-factor model, with indices including Comparative Fit Index (CFI), Tucker Lewis Index (TLI), Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA), and Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR). Convergent validity was assessed by examining the correlation between the Arabic DBS and the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26) previously translated into Arabic, the latter identifying attitudes, feelings and behaviors related to eating.

Results: The Arabic translated DBS scale demonstrated high translation accuracy and content validity estimates. Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω reliability coefficients for the translated scale were approximately 0.91. Test-retest reliability was 0.96. The three-factor model showed an acceptable fit (CFI = 0.93, TLI = 0.92, RMSE = 0.08, SRMR = 0.06). The Arabic version of the DBS was found to have good convergent validity, as evidenced by the significant correlation between the EAT-26 and DBS questionnaires (r = 0.53, p < 0.01).

Conclusion: The Arabic version of the DBS is highly reliable and has sufficient content validity to measure belief about personal ability to control one's weight.

Keywords: BMI; Diet; Obesity; Psychology; Validation; Weight control.