Development and Psychometric Properties of a Lifestyle-Related Behaviors & Barriers Scale (LBBS) among Young Adults

Abstract

Abstract Background & Aim: The management of obesity has unique characteristics and challenges in different age groups. Effective redressal requires the recognition of unhealthy lifestyles through reliable and valid assessments targeting young adults (YAs). The present study is dedicated to formulating and evaluating the psychometric attributes of an all-encompassing questionnaire to assess lifestyle-related behavior and associated barriers. Methods: The tool was formulated through a mixed-method study design, including item generation, assessment of content validity by experts, face validity through pre-testing, and construct validity through exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The dimensionality and discriminant validity were tested through structural equation modeling (SEM) by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Reliability, stability, and internal consistency were also confirmed by conducting a test-retest assessment using Cronbach’s alpha and Intraclass correlation (ICC). Result: A tool with four latent factors and 17 items was found a good fit after EFA and subsequent CFA. A total of 302 participants were recruited for EFA, and 152 participants were subjected to SEM through CFA. Additional data from 102 participants was taken after one week for test-retest reliability. The tool demonstrated good reliability, stability, internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha: .72, ICC= 0.960, CI= 0.952 to 0.971). Conclusion: This study has successfully developed a concise and reliable questionnaire for assessing obesity-related factors in YAs, addressing the limitations of prior tools. The questionnaire holds promise for widespread use in clinical, research, and public health settings, facilitating assessments and interventions.