Cross-cultural adaptation and psychometric investigation of the palatable eating motives scale (PEMS) for a sample of Brazilian adults

Abstract

Highly palatable foods and beverages can significantly stimulate appetite through the reward system leading to hedonic hunger. Investigating palatable food is important, especially in Brazil, which lacks this type of study based on psychometric instruments such as the Palatable Eating Motives Scale (PEMS). 1. To adapt the PEMS from English to Portuguese; 2. To evaluate the psychometric properties of the PEMS for a sample of young adults; 3. To verify the influence of sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) on motives for consuming highly palatable foods and drinks. The PEMS was cross-culturally adapted and translated into Portuguese. Psychometric properties included analyses of validity (factorial, convergent, discriminant, and external) and reliability. A hypothetically causal structural model was constructed to verify the relationship between individuals’ characteristics and PEMS factors. 1031 people participated in the study [female = 61.6%, mean age = 25.5 (SD = 5.3) years]. A PEMS model proposed in Turkish contexts showed adequate adjustment to the sample. Females and younger individuals reported consuming highly palatable foods and drinks more frequently for Coping; Enhancement; and other reasons compared to males and older individuals. Individuals with a higher BMI indicated that they consumed these foods and drinks more frequently only for Coping. The Portuguese version of the PEMS was presented and the data obtained for the sample were valid and reliable. Sex, age, and BMI are important characteristics to investigate consumption of highly palatable foods and drinks.