The Chinese version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale: An examination of its validation in a sample of female adolescents

• We developed a Chinese version of the YFAS, and tested its reliability and validity.
• The present study supported the single-factor structure of the original scale.
• The translated scale, the YFAS-R-C, has good test–retest reliability.
• The YFAS-R-C has good convergent and divergent validity and diagnostic ability.
• The YFAS-R-C is a valid and reliable instrument for measuring food addiction.

IntroductionThe present study developed and tested a Chinese version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS-R-C) in a sample of female normal-school students, with the aim of producing a psychometrically sound tool for assessing food addiction in female adolescents.MethodsA preliminary study of 72 normal-school students tested the YFAS-R-C and collected suggestions to improve it. Twenty days later, the formal YFAS-R-C, the Binge Eating Scale (BES), Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), BIS/BAS Reactivity (BIS/BAS) scale, and Regulatory Emotional Self-efficacy (RES) scale were administrated to a sample of 950 normal-school students. Test–retest reliability was assessed in 53 students who took the YFAS-R-C twice.ResultsThe single factor structure of the YFAS-R-C could be confirmed in our study. The internal consistency (KR-20) for 21 original items (0.857) and diagnostic criteria (0.75) were good. Confirmatory factor analysis verified a one-factor structure with an acceptable fit. The test–retest reliability of the YFAS-R-C was good, with interclass correlations of 0.72 for symptom items and 0.69 for the diagnostic criteria. The YFAS-R-C had good convergent and discriminant validity: symptom and diagnosis versions both had significant correlations with measures of related eating behavior constructs (BES and EAT-26), but had no or moderate correlations with measures of related, yet separate constructs (BIS/BAS and RES).DiscussionThe results indicate the YFAS-R-C has a good psychometric validity to differentiate population with and without food addiction in a group of female normal-school students. Future studies should validate the YFAS-R-C in diverse samples.