-
-
- MPEQ
- INSTRUCTIONS: The items in this questionnaire refer
to people's eating behaviors. Please read each item carefully and decide to what extent it
is characteristic of you. Give each item a rating of how much it applies to you by marking
your response in this booklet. Use the following scale:
- A = Not at all characteristic of me.
- B = Slightly characteristic of me.
- C = Somewhat characteristic of me.
- D = Moderately characteristic of me.
- E = Very characteristic of me.
- NOTE:
- Remember to respond to all items, even if you are not
completely sure.
- Your answers will be kept in the strictest confidence.
- Also, please be honest in responding to these statements.
1. I expect that my eating habits will be excellent in the future.
- 2. When I don’t eat in a healthy fashion, I myself am
in control of whether this improves.
- 3. My goal is for my eating habits/tendencies to be perfect
in every way.
- 4. I pay particularly close attention to how others react
to my personal eating habits.
- 5. I derive a sense of self-pride from the way I handle my
own eating habits.
- 6. My eating habits are determined largely by other more
powerful people (e.g., parents, family).
- 7. I assertively pursue my nutritional needs.
- 8. I have a strong and healthy appetite.
- 9. I'm very motivated to develop and maintain healthy
patterns of eating.
- 10. I have never eaten any junk food in my entire lifetime.
- 11. If I am careful with my diet, then I will be able to
prevent myself from having an eating problem.
- 12. My own personal eating habits are determined mostly by
chance happenings.
- 13. I am very aware of my eating habits and patterns.
- 14. I have good eating habits and behaviors.
- 15. My eating habits and behaviors are something that I
myself am directly in charge of.
- 16. I try to do things that keep me from eating too much.
- 17. I have the ability to take care of my own
eating-nutritional requirements.
- 18. I am to blame for those times when I don't eat very
well.
- 19. Not only do I have healthy eating habits, but it is
important to me that I keep these healthy eating habits.
- 20. I'm very motivated to develop and maintain healthy
patterns of eating.
- 21. I believe that in the future my eating habits will be
healthy and nutritional.
- 22. When my eating habits are poor, I myself am responsible
for improving them.
- 23. I always strive to be totally "perfect" in my
eating tendencies/habits.
- 24. I'm very concerned with how others evaluate my eating
and mealtime habits.
- 25. I am proud of the healthy eating habits I have
established.
- 26. My eating habits are largely determined by people other
than myself (e.g., friends, family).
- 27. When others want me to eat foods of poor nutritional
value, I simply refuse.
- 28. My appetite for food is always strong and robust.
- 29. I'm strongly motivated to devote time-effort to
maintaining good eating habits.
- 30. In my adult life, I have never eaten any food with my
fingers.
- 31. I can prevent myself from having any eating problems by
developing positive eating behaviors.
- 32. The type of food that I eat is influenced largely by
luck and chance (i.e., by whatever food happens to be around).
- 33. I tend to spend a considerable amount of time thinking
about my eating habits.
- 34. My current eating habits and behaviors are healthy and
nutritional.
- 35. My eating habits and behaviors are something that I
alone am responsible for.
- 36. I am motivated to keep myself from eating more than I
need.
- 37. I am competent enough to make sure that my eating
habits are healthy and nutritious.
- 38. If my eating and nutritional habits were to
deteriorate, I would be the person to blame.
- 39. Not only do I watch my food intake (i.e., how much I
actually eat), but it's important to me that I do so.
- 40. Not only do I have healthy eating habits, but it is
important to me that I keep these healthy eating habits.
- 41. I do not expect to suffer any eating problems in the
future.
- 42. If I were to develop an eating disorder, I myself would
be responsible for getting better.
- 43. I am perfectionist when it comes to taking care of my
own eating/nutritional needs.
- 44. I'm very concerned about what others think of my eating
habits and behaviors.
- 45. I am pleased with how well I handle my own eating
habits and behaviors.
- 46. My eating behavior is strongly influenced by the
actions of powerful others (e.g., celebrities, models).
- 47. When I have a disagreement with someone about my
nutritional preferences, I tell them so.
- 48. I never seem to lack a strong healthy appetite.
- 49. I have a strong desire to adhere to a healthy pattern
of eating behaviors.
- 50. I have never eaten more than I needed at any meal.
- 51. If I just practice healthy eating habits, then I will
be able to avoid any eating problems in the future.
- 52. My eating behaviors (i.e., the types of food that I
eat) are determined by luck.
- 53. I think about my eating habits more than most people
do.
- 54. I am a person who has healthy eating habits.
- 55. The type and amount of food that I eat is largely
determined by my own actions.
- 56. I try to avoid engaging eating too much of anything.
- 57. I have the skills and ability to guarantee good,
healthy eating behaviors for myself.
- 58. If I were to develop an eating disorder, then I'd be to
blame for not taking good care of myself.
- 59. I am careful about my nutritional and eating
tendencies, and it=s important to me that I am careful.
- 60. If I just practice healthy eating habits, then I will
be able to avoid any eating problems in the future.
- 61. I will probably experience a number of eating problems
in the future.
- 62. If I were to develop any eating problems, my recovery
would depend in large part on my own actions.
- 63. It is very essential that I develop and maintain the
very best possible eating habits.
- 64. I'm concerned about the public impression created by my
own personal eating habits.
- 65. I have positive feelings about my own eating behavior.
- 66. In order to have good eating habits, I have to conform
to other more powerful people.
- 67. I am not at all passive about getting my nutritional
needs fulfilled.
- 68. I always seem to be 'adequately' hungry.
- 69. It's really important to me that I pay careful
attention to my own eating habits.
- 70. I have never eaten off of anyone else's plate.
- 71. I will be able to avoid any future eating problems, if
I just attend to my own eating habits.
- 72. My eating habits and tendencies are caused by luck and
other chance-related experiences.
- 73. I notice immediately when I deviate from my usual
eating habits.
- 74. My eating behavior needs a lot of work in order to be
healthy and beneficial.
- 75. The amount that I eat at any particular meal is a
matter of my own personal control.
- 76. I really want to prevent myself from overeating.
- 77. I am able to handle my own eating and nutritional
needs.
- 78. If I were to start eating in an unhealthy way, then it
would be my own fault for letting it happen.
- 79. It's important to me that I pay attention to my eating
habits, and I actually do so.
- 80. I'm very aware of any changes that may occur in my
eating patterns.
- 81. I anticipate that my eating habits and behaviors will
deteriorate in the future.
- 82. If I developed an eating disorder, my recovery would
depend on how I myself dealt with the problem.
- 83. I set the very highest standards for my
eating/nutritional habits.
- 84. I'm concerned about what other people think of my
eating habits and table manners.
- 85. I feel good about the way I manage my own eating needs
and requirements.
- 86. My eating behavior is largely determined by people who
have considerable influence and control over me.
- 87. I don't eat food that is bad for me just because
someone serves it to me.
- 88. I always have a strong appetite.
- 89. I strive to to maintain a consistent and healthy
pattern of eating.
- 90. I have never rushed through a meal at any time in my
life.
- 91. If I just pay attention to my diet, I will be able to
prevent myself from having any eating problems.
- 92. I believe that chance and luck play an important role
in my eating habits and tendencies.
- 93. I'm very aware of any changes that may occur in my
eating patterns.
- 94. My eating habits and behaviors are in immediate need of
attention.
- 95. Eating nutritious, healthy food is a matter of my own
personal control and effort.
- 96. I am really motivated to avoid eating an excessive
amount of food.
- 97. I am capable of taking care of my own
eating-nutritional needs.
- 98. If I were to develop poor eating habits, then it would
be my own fault.
- 99. I monitor my daily eating routines, and it=s really
important to me that I do this.
- 100. I always seem to be "adequately" hungry.
- SECTION B (continued)
- INSTRUCTIONS: The items in this questionnaire refer
to people's eating behaviors. Please read each item carefully and decide to what extent it
is characteristic of you. Give each item a rating of how much it applies to you by marking
your response in this booklet. Use the following scale:
- A = Not at all characteristic of me.
- B = Slightly characteristic of me.
- C = Somewhat characteristic of me.
- D = Moderately characteristic of me.
- E = Very characteristic of me.
- NOTE:
- Remember to respond to all items, even if you are not
completely sure.
- Your answers will be kept in the strictest confidence.
- Also, please be honest in responding to these statements.
- 101. I am afraid of becoming overweight.
- 102. I am depressed about my eating habits.
- 103. I am satisfied with my eating habits.
- 104. I feel anxious when I think about my eating habits.
- 105. I feel ashamed of my eating habits.
- 106. I am angry about my eating habits/tendencies.
- 107. I have a fear of becoming fat.
- 108. My current eating/nutritional habits leave me feeling
unhappy and sad.
- 109. I am satisfied with my eating tendencies/nutritional
habits.
- 110. I'm worried about the nature of my eating habits and
behaviors.
- 111. My eating tendencies are embarrassing to me.
- 112. My usual eating habits leave me feeling angry.
- 113. I am fearful of gaining a great deal of weight.
- 114. I feel sad about my usually eating tendencies and
proclivities.
- 115. I feel dissatisfied with my eating patterns.
- 116. Thinking about my eating habits leaves me with an
uneasy feeling.
- 117. I am ashamed of my eating patterns.
- 118. My eating habits and mannerisms cause me to feel
angry.
- 119. I don't have much fear about becoming overweight.
- 120. I feel down in the dumps about my eating habits.
- 121. I am pleased with my usual patterns of eating.
- 122. I am more anxious about my eating habits than most
people are.
- 123. When I think about my eating habits, I feel shame.
- 124. I experience feelings of anger about my eating
preferences and habits.
- 125. I'm not afraid of becoming fat.
- 126. After I eat, I become depressed about the food I've
eaten.
- 127. My eating behaviors are satisfying to me.
- 128. I feel nervous when I think about my eating patterns
and habits.
- 129. After I eat, I feel guilty about what I've eaten.
- 130. I feel angry about my eating tendencies.
- Copyright - 1997
- Scoring Instructions for the Multidimensional Psychology
of Eating Questionnaire (MPEQ):
- The
Multidimensional Psychology of Eating Questionnaire (MPEQ) was designed as an objective
self-report assessment instrument with separate subscales (24 content and 2 validity
subscales) that assess 26 specific psychological aspects of people's eating-related
tendencies. After canvassing the relevant literature, a set of original items was prepared
to measure these 26 tendencies (sample statements are enclosed within parentheses after
each label): (1) eating optimism (e.g., I expect that my eating habits will be excellent
in the future), (2) eating disorder management (e.g., When my eating habits are poor, I
myself am responsible for improving them), (3) eating perfectionism (e.g., I am
perfectionist when it comes to taking care of my own eating/nutritional needs), (4) eating
self-monitoring (e.g., I pay particularly close attention to how others react to my
personal eating habits), (5) eating self-esteem (e.g., I derive a sense of self-pride from
the way I handle my own eating habits), (6) power-other locus of eating control [e.g., My
eating habits are determined largely by other more powerful people (e.g., parents,
family)], (7) eating assertiveness (e.g., I assertively pursue my nutritional needs), (8)
healthy eating appetite (e.g., I have a strong and healthy appetite), (9) motivation for
healthy eating (e.g., I=m very motivated to develop and maintain healthy patterns of
eating), (10) eating social desirability (an MPEQ validity subscale), (11) eating disorder
prevention (e.g., If I am careful with my diet, than I will be able to prevent myself from
having an eating problem), (12) chance-luck locus of eating control (e.g., My own personal
eating habits are determined mostly by chance happenings), (13) eating consciousness
(e.g., I am very aware of my eating habits and patterns), (14) eating status
self-perception (e.g., I have good eating habits and behaviors), (15) internal locus of
eating control (e.g., The amount that I eat at any particular meal is a matter of my own
personal control), (16) motivation to avoid unhealthy eating (e.g., I try to do things
that keep me from eating too much), (17) eating self-efficacy (e.g., I have the ability to
take care of my own eating-nutritional requirements), (18) eating disorder self-blame
(e.g., If my eating and nutritional habits were to deteriorate, I would be the person to
blame), (19) eating self-schemata (e.g., Not only do I have healthy eating habits, but it
is important to me that I keep these healthy eating habits), (20) eating response
consistency (an MPEQ validity subscale), (21) fear of becoming overweight (e.g., I am
afraid of becoming overweight), (22) eating depression (e.g., I am depressed about my
eating habits), (23) eating satisfaction (e.g., I am satisfied with my eating habits),
(24) eating anxiety (e.g., I feel anxious when I thank about my eating habits), (25)
eating guilt-shame (e.g., I feel ashamed of my eating habits), and (26) eating anger
(e.g., I experience feelings of anger about my eating preferences and habits).
- A
5-point Likert format was used for the participants' responses: not at all characteristic
of me (0), slightly characteristic of me (1), somewhat characteristic of me (2),
moderately characteristic of me (3), and very characteristic of me (4). Subscales scores
on the MPEQ were computed by summing the responses to the 5 items on each subscale (except
for the MPEQ response consistency subscale), with higher scores corresponding to greater
amounts of each respective tendency. For the MPEQ validity subscale concerned with
response consistency, the subscale score was computed in a slightly different manner.
Specifically, 5 of the MPEQ statements on the non-affect related subscales were repeated
on the MPEQ; an "absolute" discrepancy score was then computed between the
responses to the original and the repeated statements, and the sum of these 5 discrepancy
scores was then calculated (subscale range = 0 to 20). Higher scores on this MPEQ validity
subscale thus corresponded to greater response inconsistency. The SPSS
codes for the MPEQ are shown below:
-
-
COMMENT *****************************************************
COMMENT MEQ REVERSE CODED ITEMS ARE
RECODED HERE
COMMENT
RECODE MEQ61,MEQ81,
MEQ74,MEQ94,MEQ119,MEQ125,MEQ115
(1=5)(2=4)(3=3)(4=2)(5=1)
COMMENT *****************************************************
COMMENT ALL MEQ ITEMS ARE RECODED HERE
COMMENT
RECODE MEQ1 TO
MEQ130
(5=4)(4=3)(3=2)(2=1)(1=0)
COMMENT ***********************************************************
COMMENT ***********************************************************
COMPUTE DIF1=ABS(meq20-meq9)
COMPUTE DIF2=ABS(MEQ40-MEQ19)
COMPUTE DIF3=ABS(MEQ60-MEQ51)
COMPUTE DIF4=ABS(MEQ80-MEQ93)
COMPUTE DIF5=ABS(MEQ100-MEQ68)
COMMENT ***********************************************************
COMPUTE MEQS1=MEQ1+MEQ21+MEQ41+MEQ61+MEQ81
COMPUTE MEQS2=MEQ2+MEQ22+MEQ42+MEQ62+MEQ82
COMPUTE MEQS3=MEQ3+MEQ23+MEQ43+MEQ63+MEQ83
COMPUTE MEQS4=MEQ4+MEQ24+MEQ44+MEQ64+MEQ84
COMPUTE MEQS5=MEQ5+MEQ25+MEQ45+MEQ65+MEQ85
COMPUTE MEQS6=MEQ6+MEQ26+MEQ46+MEQ66+MEQ86
COMPUTE MEQS7=MEQ7+MEQ27+MEQ47+MEQ67+MEQ87
COMPUTE MEQS8=MEQ8+MEQ28+MEQ48+MEQ68+MEQ88
COMPUTE MEQS9=MEQ9+MEQ29+MEQ49+MEQ69+MEQ89
COMPUTE MEQS10=MEQ10+MEQ30+MEQ50+MEQ70+MEQ90
COMPUTE MEQS11=MEQ11+MEQ31+MEQ51+MEQ71+MEQ91
COMPUTE MEQS12=MEQ12+MEQ32+MEQ52+MEQ72+MEQ92
COMPUTE MEQS13=MEQ13+MEQ33+MEQ53+MEQ73+MEQ93
COMPUTE MEQS14=MEQ14+MEQ34+MEQ54+MEQ74+MEQ94
COMPUTE MEQS15=MEQ15+MEQ35+MEQ55+MEQ75+MEQ95
COMPUTE MEQS16=MEQ16+MEQ36+MEQ56+MEQ76+MEQ96
COMPUTE MEQS17=MEQ17+MEQ37+MEQ57+MEQ77+MEQ97
COMPUTE MEQS18=MEQ18+MEQ38+MEQ58+MEQ78+MEQ98
COMPUTE MEQS19=MEQ19+MEQ39+MEQ59+MEQ79+MEQ99
COMMENT *********************
COMPUTE MEQS20=DIF1+DIF2+DIF3+DIF4+DIF5
COMMENT *********************
COMPUTE MEQS21=MEQ101+MEQ107+MEQ113+MEQ119+MEQ125
COMPUTE MEQS22=MEQ102+MEQ108+MEQ114+MEQ120+MEQ126
COMPUTE MEQS23=MEQ103+MEQ109+MEQ115+MEQ121+MEQ127
COMPUTE MEQS24=MEQ104+MEQ110+MEQ116+MEQ122+MEQ128
COMPUTE MEQS25=MEQ105+MEQ111+MEQ117+MEQ123+MEQ129
COMPUTE MEQS26=MEQ106+MEQ112+MEQ118+MEQ124+MEQ130
COMMENT *****************************************************
VAR LABELS MEQS1 EATING OPTIMISM
VAR LABELS MEQS2 EATING DISORDER MANAGEMENT
VAR LABELS MEQS3 EATING PERFECTIONISM
VAR LABELS MEQS4 EATING MONITORING
VAR LABELS MEQS5 EATING SELF-ESTEEM
VAR LABELS MEQS6 POWERFUL OTHER EATING LOCUS OF CONTROL
VAR LABELS MEQS7 EATING ASSERTIVENESS
VAR LABELS MEQS8
HEALTH EATING APPETITE
VAR LABELS MEQS9 HEALTHY EATING MOTIVATION
VAR LABELS MEQS10 VALIDITY-EATING SOCIAL DESIRABILITY
VAR LABELS MEQS11 EATING DISORDER PREVENTION
VAR LABELS MEQS12 CHANCE EATING LOCUS OF CONTROL
VAR LABELS MEQS13 EATING CONSCIOUSNESS
VAR LABELS MEQS14 EATING STATUS SELF-PERCEPTION
VAR LABELS MEQS15 INTERNAL EATING LOCUS OF CONTROL
VAR LABELS MEQS16 MOTIVATION TO AVOID UNHEALTHY EATING
VAR LABELS MEQS17 EATING SELF-EFFICACY
VAR LABELS MEQS18 EATING DISORDER SELF-BLAME
VAR LABELS MEQS19 EATING SELF-SCHEMATA
VAR LABELS MEQS20 VALIDITY-RESPONSE INCONSISTENCY
VAR LABELS MEQS21 OVERWEIGHT FEAR
VAR LABELS MEQS22 EATING DEPRESSION
VAR LABELS MEQS23 EATING SATISFACTION
VAR LABELS MEQS24 EATING ANXIETY
VAR LABELS MEQS25 EATING GUILT AND SHAME
VAR LABELS MEQS26 EATING ANGER
- ABSTRACT
- The Multidimensional Psychology of Eating Questionnaire (MPEQ):
Preliminary Evidence for Reliability and Validity
William E. Snell, Jr. and Georgette Johnson
Southeast Missouri State University
- The present investigation provided preliminary
evidence for the reliability and validity of the Multidimensional Psychology of Eating
Questionnaire (MPEQ), an objective self-report measure of 26 psychological tendencies
associated with eating. The results indicated that the 26 MPEQ subscales had adequate
internal reliability, and that gender-related patterns also existed on some of the MPEQ
subscales. Preliminary evidence for the validity of the MPEQ was also obtained, as several
MPEQ subscales were found to be associated with (1) symptoms of bulimia and a drive for
thinness, (2) eating-related affect and emotions, and (3) eating-related behaviors and
attitudes. The discussion focuses on the potential research and applied uses of the
Multidimensional Psychology of Eating Questionnaire for the study of eating related
problems, dysfunctions, and habits.
Explicit
written permission must be obtained from Dr. William E. Snell, Jr. to use
the Multidimensional Psychology of Eating Questionnaire (MPEQ).
(copyright, 1997). |
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This site was last updated on
Sunday, June 17, 2007.
Department of Psychology, SE Missouri State University
Send comments and inquires to wesnell@semo.edu
Copyright © 1997 to Dr. William E. Snell,
Jr.
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