Adaptation and psychometric evaluation of the eating and food literacy behaviours questionnaire (EFLBQ) for Turkish university students

Objective: Adolescence and young adulthood are critical periods for forming independent eating habits, shaping identities, and establishing lifelong health practices. Addressing food literacy during this developmental stage is essential. It was aimed to evaluate the Turkish validity and reliability of the eating and food literacy behaviors survey (EFLBQ) among university students.Method: A cross-sectional study involved 190 university students aged 18-30 from various universities across Turkey, conducted between January and July 2024. The EFLBQ was translated into Turkish by nutrition experts. Content validity was confirmed using the Davis technique, followed by a pilot test to ensure clarity and suitability for the target population. Outcomes included construct validity (assessed via exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses), internal consistency (measured with Cronbach’s alpha and omega coefficients), and test-retest reliability. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses evaluated the structure of the questionnaire. Internal consistency was determined using Cronbach’s alpha and omega coefficients. Test-retest reliability assessed the stability of responses over time.Results: The Turkish version of the EFLBQ contained 18 items organized into four sub-dimensions, explaining 59.0% of the total variance. A CMIN/df value of 1.636 indicated a good model fit. Internal consistency was strong, with Cronbach’s alpha and omega coefficients calculated at 0.87. Test-retest reliability was acceptable (0.692, p<0.001). Significant correlations between item-total scores further supported reliability.Conclusion: The Turkish EFLBQ is a valid and reliable instrument for evaluating food literacy among university students, providing a robust tool for future research and intervention development.