Objective: This study established the validity and reliability of the Healthy Families Survey, a 45-item survey measuring nutrition and physical activity behaviors among children and parents enrolled in the Maryland Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education. Methods: Analysis included 1,376 pretest surveys. A factor analysis was conducted to establish construct validity, item analyses were conducted to determine item relevance for the target population, and Cronbach α was established to assess internal reliability. Results: The factor analysis extracted 9 factors, with 91% of variables loading appropriately (>+0.30 loading) onto factors. Item analyses identified 6 variables with low (<0.20) or high (>0.80) mean values at baseline. Seven of the 9 subscales had Cronbach α ≥.60. Conclusions and Implications: The Healthy Families Survey demonstrated both strong construct validity and internal reliability and can be used by Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program–Education agencies to assess child and parent nutrition and physical activity behaviors. © 2018 Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior
Publication Year
2018
Abstract