Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Psychometrics and Associations With Child and Parent Variables

Stephanie L Allen; Isabel M Smith; Eric Duku; Tracy Vaillancourt; Peter Szatmari; Susan Bryson; Eric Fombonne; Joanne Volden; Charlotte Waddell; Lonnie Zwaigenbaum; Wendy Roberts; Pat Mirenda; Teresa Bennett; Mayada Elsabbagh; Stelios Georgiades

doi:10.1093/jpepsy/jsv006

Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale in Young Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: Psychometrics and Associations With Child and Parent Variables

J Pediatr Psychol. 2015 Jul;40(6):581-90. doi: 10.1093/jpepsy/jsv006. Epub 2015 Feb 27.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.
² Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University isabel.smith@iwk.nshealth.ca.
³ Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University Dalhousie University, IWK Health Centre, McMaster University, University of Ottawa, University of Toronto, Oregon Health and Sciences University, University of Alberta, Simon Fraser University, University of British Columbia, and McGill University.

Abstract

Objective: The factor structure and validity of the Behavioral Pediatrics Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS; Crist & Napier-Phillips, 2001) were examined in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods: Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the original BPFAS five-factor model, the fit of each latent variable, and a rival one-factor model. None of the models was adequate, thus a categorical exploratory factor analysis (CEFA) was conducted. Correlations were used to examine relations between the BPFAS and concurrent variables of interest.

Results: The CEFA identified an acceptable three-factor model. Correlational analyses indicated that feeding problems were positively related to parent-reported autism symptoms, behavior problems, sleep problems, and parenting stress, but largely unrelated to performance-based indices of autism symptom severity, language, and cognitive abilities, as well as child age.

Conclusion: These results provide evidence supporting the use of the identified BPFAS three-factor model for samples of young children with ASD.

Keywords: assessment; autism spectrum; eating and feeding disorders..

Publication types

Multicenter Study
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder / complications*
Autism Spectrum Disorder / psychology*
Autistic Disorder
Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / psychology
Child, Preschool
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Feeding Behavior / psychology
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood / complications*
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood / diagnosis*
Feeding and Eating Disorders of Childhood / psychology
Female
Humans
Longitudinal Studies
Male
Parenting / psychology
Parents / psychology*
Pediatrics
Psychometrics / methods
Reproducibility of Results
Surveys and Questionnaires / standards*

Grants and funding

Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Canada