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Validation of the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory in Parents of Children in Cyprus
Andri Papaleontiou1, Vassiliki Siafaka1, Louiza Voniati2
1Department of Speech & Language Therapy, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece.
Insights
The Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) was translated and culturally adapted for Greek-Cypriot parents. The validated BAMBI-Gr effectively screens for feeding and mealtime challenges in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is associated with significant feeding difficulties, impacting child development and family well-being.
- Existing screening tools like the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) require cultural adaptation and validation for diverse populations.
- The Greek-Cypriot population lacked a validated tool to assess mealtime behavior problems in children with ASD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To translate and culturally adapt the Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) into Greek for use by Greek-Cypriot parents.
- To validate the adapted Greek version of the BAMBI (BAMBI-Gr) for screening mealtime behavior problems in children with ASD.
- To assess the reliability and validity of the BAMBI-Gr in a Greek-Cypriot sample.
Main Methods:
- Translation and cultural adaptation of the BAMBI following World Health Organization guidelines by bilingual experts.
- Administration of the BAMBI-Gr to 117 parents (42 with children with ASD, 75 with typically developing children).
- Statistical analysis including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for reliability and validity, and Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) analysis for cut-off points.
Main Results:
- The BAMBI-Gr exhibited strong internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.755) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.999).
- PCA identified three factors: General Refusals, Refusing Food, and Autism-Related Features, supporting the tool's structure.
- Significant differences between ASD and typically developing groups confirmed the BAMBI-Gr's sensitivity; ROC analysis established a cut-off score of 46.00.
Conclusions:
- The Greek-translated BAMBI (BAMBI-Gr) is a valid and reliable parent-reported tool for identifying feeding and mealtime difficulties in children with ASD.
- The BAMBI-Gr is suitable for use within the Greek-Cypriot population, aiding early identification and intervention.
- Cultural adaptation and validation are crucial for the effective use of screening tools across diverse populations.
Abstract:
Background/Objectives: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) includes significant feeding difficulties, behavioral issues, and communication deficits that are linked to serious medical complications and developmental challenges. The Brief Autism Mealtime Behavior Inventory (BAMBI) is a commonly used tool to screen for mealtime behavior problems in children with ASD; however, it lacks validation for use within the Greek-Cypriot population. The current study sought to present the translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the BAMBI for Greek-Cypriot parents of children with ASD. Methods: Three bilingual experts translated the inventory into Greek, following the translation guidelines by the World Health Organization. The inventory was then administered to 117 parents: 42 children with ASD and 75 typically developing children. Principal Component Analysis was used to obtain the tool's statistical reliability and validity. Results: BAMBI-Gr demonstrated strong internal consistency, as indicated by a Cronbach's alpha of 0.755, and showed excellent test-retest reliability, with an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.999. PCA identified three key factors: General Refusals, Refusing Food, and Autism-Related Features. Significant differences in BAMBI-Gr scores of the comparative group of parents of children with ASD and parents of typically developing children highlighted the tool's sensitivity in detecting mealtime behavior problems. Receiver Operating Characteristics analysis set the cut-off points for optimum distinguishing of feeding problems at 46.00 (sensitivity 0.738, 1-specificity 0.000). Conclusions: The Greek-translated version of the BAMBI demonstrates validity and effectiveness as a parent-reported assessment tool for identifying feeding and mealtime difficulties in children with ASD.
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