Preliminary Validation of the Italian Night Eating Questionnaire (I-NEQ-16): Item Analysis and Factor Structure

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Psychometrics
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Night eating syndrome (NES) severity is typically assessed using the 14-item Night Eating Questionnaire (NEQ-14).
• Two additional items measuring distress related to night eating have been proposed but not yet psychometrically evaluated.
• There is a need for validated instruments to assess NES and its correlates in diverse populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate an Italian version of the NEQ, incorporating two distress-related items, resulting in the NEQ-16 (I-NEQ-16).
• To establish the psychometric properties of a unidimensional version of the I-NEQ-16.
• To assess the concurrent validity and diagnostic utility of the I-NEQ-16.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Italian 16-item Night Eating Questionnaire (I-NEQ-16).
• Administration of the I-NEQ-16, NEQ, Night Eating Diagnostic Questionnaire (NEDQ), and measures of binge eating, eating styles, chronotype, insomnia, anxiety, and depression to 482 Italian adults.
• Confirmatory factor analysis was used to evaluate the unidimensionality of the I-NEQ-16, with specific items removed to improve model fit.

Main Results:

• A modified one-factor model of the I-NEQ-16 demonstrated acceptable fit, with correlated errors between specific item pairs.
• I-NEQ-16 scores showed significant associations with all concurrent measures, including binge eating, eating styles, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.
• The I-NEQ-16 effectively categorized individuals based on their NES diagnosis according to the NEDQ.

Conclusions:

• The Italian 16-item Night Eating Questionnaire (I-NEQ-16) is a psychometrically sound and valid instrument for assessing NES severity and associated distress.
• The I-NEQ-16 is suitable for use in research investigating the correlates of night eating behaviors within the general population.
• This validated tool can aid in understanding and potentially treating night eating syndrome.