Psychometric properties and correlates of the German version of the Fear of Food Questionnaire

Abstract The Fear of Food Questionnaire (FFQ) is a self-report measure to assess fear and avoidance of foods and food-related social situations. This study aimed to provide a German version of the FFQ and to examine its psychometric properties and correlates. Two-hundred and thirty-three participants (76% female) completed the FFQ along other measures online and 110 participants completed the FFQ again after two weeks. The original FFQ’s five factors could not be replicated but analyses supported a one-factor model of a shortened form with ten items. Internal and test–retest reliability coefficients were high for both the full version and the short form. Convergent validity was supported by associations with gastrointestinal diseases, emetophobic symptomatology, and symptoms of avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder. A medium-sized correlation with eating disorder psychopathology suggested limited discriminant validity. Female sex, disgust propensity, disgust sensitivity, and intolerance of uncertainty were identified as further correlates of fear of food. In conclusion, this study indicates that the German FFQ and its short form has high internal as well as test–retest reliability and provides support for its convergent validity. Indications for its factorial and discriminant validity were limited, which may necessitate further refinements in future studies.