Exploring dietary self-efficacy and emotional well-being in Spanish children with overweight and obesity

Abstract

Weight control issues are a challenge today, especially in children and adolescents. Self-efficacy may play an important role in adherence to healthy eating behaviors, and good assessment tools are required. This study aimed to both explore the implications of dietary self-efficacy on healthy eating and emotional variables and validate the Child Dietary Self-Efficacy Scale in the Spanish clinical context. A total of 151 patients aged 6 to 17 years receiving care in endocrinology units were evaluated. A third of the participants were assessed a second time. Questionnaires on self-efficacy, emotion regulation, affect, and eating behaviors were administered. Bivariate correlations, test-retest analyses, and linear regression were performed. For the first time, the scale was tested with confirmatory factor analysis. Dietary self-efficacy correlated with emotion regulation, affect, and eating behaviour, and was a predictor of later eating behaviour. Also, negative affect predicted lower dietary self-efficacy. The Spanish version of the instrument confirmed a one-factor solution. However, a more efficient 10-item version showed a better model fit. Dietary self-efficacy seems to have relevant implications for children’s emotional domains and for their adherence to healthy eating, and a valid Spanish version of the scale is now available for application in clinical contexts.