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

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Scopus citations

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)581-590
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of pediatric psychology
Volume40
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 12 2014

Keywords

  • assessment
  • autism spectrum
  • eating and feeding disorders

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health
  • Developmental and Educational Psychology

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