Validation of the Flexible and Rigid Cognitive Restraint Scales in a General French Population

Sandrine Péneau (1) , Marc Bénard (1) , Margaux Robert (1) , Benjamin Allès (1) , Valentina A Andreeva (1) , Frédéric Courtois (1) , Mathilde Touvier (1) , Christophe Leys (2) , France Bellisle (1)

1 EREN [CRESS - U1153 / UMR_A 1125] - Nutritional Epidemiology Research Team | Equipe de Recherche en Epidémiologie Nutritionnelle
2 ULB - Université libre de Bruxelles

Distinguishing between flexible and rigid cognitive restraint (CR) may be useful for understanding the role of CR in dietary behavior and weight status. This study aimed to translate and adapt the flexible and rigid CR scales to the French context and test their psychometric properties. Construct validity, internal consistency, and test–retest reliability were examined in a sample of 620 individuals. Confirmatory factor analysis of the scales found a two-factor structure (flexible CR: 12 items; rigid CR: 15 items) that provided a good fit and supported the initial solution (χ2 = 584.7, df = 322, CFI = 0.96, RMSEA = 0.052 [0.045, 0.059], TLI = 0.95). Higher flexible and rigid CR were associated with higher CR overall, emotional eating (TFEQ-R21) and eating disorders (SCOFF), and lower intuitive eating (IES-2). In addition, higher flexible CR was associated with lower impulsivity (BIS-11) while higher rigid CR was associated with higher uncontrolled eating (TFEQ-R21) and lower self-esteem (RSES), satisfaction with life (SWLS), and optimism (LOT-R). Flexible and rigid CR internal consistency was satisfactory (McDonald ω = 0.77 and 0.74, respectively) and test–retest reliability was good (ICC = 0.81 and 0.79, respectively). This study validated a flexible and rigid CR tool in a French population and confirmed that these two types of CR represent distinct eating behaviors. View Full-Text

Mots clés: dietary restraint; Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire; eating behavior; psychometrics; validation

Domaines: Alimentation et Nutrition; Psychologie; Santé publique et épidémiologie

Sandrine Péneau, Marc Bénard, Margaux Robert, Benjamin Allès, Valentina A Andreeva, et al.. Validation of the Flexible and Rigid Cognitive Restraint Scales in a General French Population. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2022, 19 (19), pp.12519. ⟨10.3390/ijerph191912519⟩. ⟨hal-03839840⟩