TY - JOUR

T1 - Development and cross-cultural validation of the Goal Content for Weight Maintenance Scale (GCWMS)

AU - Encantado, Jorge

AU - Marques, Marta M.

AU - Palmeira, António L.

AU - Sebire, Simon J.

AU - Teixeira, Pedro J.

AU - Stubbs, R. James

AU - Heitmann, Berit L.

AU - Gouveia, Maria J.

PY - 2021

Y1 - 2021

N2 - Purpose: Long-term weight management requires sustained engagement with energy-balance-related behaviours. According to self-determination theory, behaviour goals can support or undermine motivation depending on the quality of their content (i.e., extrinsic and intrinsic motivation). This study aimed to develop and validate the goal content for weight loss maintenance scale (GCWMS). Methods: The GCWMS was administered to 1511 participants who had achieved clinically significant weight losses and were taking part in a large weight loss maintenance study: the NoHoW Trial (ISRCTN88405328). The scale derived from two well-established questionnaires regarding exercise goals. Construct validity was examined for 4 theory-driven domains: Health Management, Challenge, Image, and Social Recognition. Split-sample confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the factorial validity and multi-group measurement invariance (configural, metric, scalar, and residual invariance). The reliability estimates were also assessed, and discriminant validity was evaluated using 2 conceptually related questionnaires. Results: The first analysis showed a poor fit of the original factorial structure. Subsequent investigation with a new specified model indicated close fit to the data after removal of 3 items χ2(58) = 599.982; p <.001; χ2/df = 10.345; CFI = 0.940; GFI = 0.941; SRMR = 0.063; RMSEA = 0.079 (LL = 0.073; UL =.084). Good internal consistency was achieved in all subscales (α >.775), convergent and divergent validity were verified through associations with other theoretical related constructs. Findings from multi-group invariance test demonstrated that the specified model of GCWMS achieved full measurement invariance for gender but did not support residual invariance across countries. Conclusion: Findings support the hypothesised four-dimension structure of the GCWMS, confirming reliability and multi-group invariance in factor structure. Analysis also supports valid group means comparisons on latent factors at gender and at cross-cultural level. Ways to improve the quality of the scale are discussed. Level of evidence: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive

AB - Purpose: Long-term weight management requires sustained engagement with energy-balance-related behaviours. According to self-determination theory, behaviour goals can support or undermine motivation depending on the quality of their content (i.e., extrinsic and intrinsic motivation). This study aimed to develop and validate the goal content for weight loss maintenance scale (GCWMS). Methods: The GCWMS was administered to 1511 participants who had achieved clinically significant weight losses and were taking part in a large weight loss maintenance study: the NoHoW Trial (ISRCTN88405328). The scale derived from two well-established questionnaires regarding exercise goals. Construct validity was examined for 4 theory-driven domains: Health Management, Challenge, Image, and Social Recognition. Split-sample confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to test the factorial validity and multi-group measurement invariance (configural, metric, scalar, and residual invariance). The reliability estimates were also assessed, and discriminant validity was evaluated using 2 conceptually related questionnaires. Results: The first analysis showed a poor fit of the original factorial structure. Subsequent investigation with a new specified model indicated close fit to the data after removal of 3 items χ2(58) = 599.982; p <.001; χ2/df = 10.345; CFI = 0.940; GFI = 0.941; SRMR = 0.063; RMSEA = 0.079 (LL = 0.073; UL =.084). Good internal consistency was achieved in all subscales (α >.775), convergent and divergent validity were verified through associations with other theoretical related constructs. Findings from multi-group invariance test demonstrated that the specified model of GCWMS achieved full measurement invariance for gender but did not support residual invariance across countries. Conclusion: Findings support the hypothesised four-dimension structure of the GCWMS, confirming reliability and multi-group invariance in factor structure. Analysis also supports valid group means comparisons on latent factors at gender and at cross-cultural level. Ways to improve the quality of the scale are discussed. Level of evidence: Level V, cross-sectional descriptive

KW - Factorial validity

KW - Motivation

KW - Questionnaire

KW - Self-determination theory

KW - Weight loss maintenance

U2 - 10.1007/s40519-021-01148-x

DO - 10.1007/s40519-021-01148-x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 33646516

AN - SCOPUS:85101900134

VL - 26

SP - 2737

EP - 2748

JO - Eating and Weight Disorders

JF - Eating and Weight Disorders

SN - 1590-1262

ER -