Measurement Invariance on the Nine‐Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) by Age and Reporter Status: Comparing ARFID Symptoms Among Self‐Reporting Adults and Adolescents and Parent Reports of Children and Adolescents

Authors:
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Objective: Self‐report measures of ARFID symptoms (e.g., Nine‐Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen [NIAS]) are used to assess symptom differences between groups. Measurement invariance techniques clarify if groups interpret a measure similarly, providing a foundation for examining group differences. Considering age and reporter status (e.g., parent vs. self‐report), we investigated measurement invariance of the NIAS in (1) self‐reporting adults vs. adolescents; (2) parent reports on children vs. adolescents; and (3) parent reports on adolescents vs. adolescent self‐report. If measurement invariance was supported, we examined symptom differences.Methods: Data were from the ARFID Genes and Environment (ARFID‐GEN) project.Results: Self‐reporting adults vs. adolescents and parent reports of adolescents vs. adolescent self‐report interpreted the NIAS similarly (measurement invariance was supported). Measurement invariance was not supported in parent reports on children vs. adolescents. Self‐reporting adults reported higher appetite scores (i.e., lower appetite) than self‐reporting adolescents at the subscale and item level on the NIAS. Although no subscales differences were identified between parent reports on adolescents and adolescent self‐reports, parents reported more picky eating and lower appetite in adolescents than self‐reporting adolescents at the item level on the NIAS.Discussion: Findings support using the NIAS to measure symptom differences in self‐reporting adults vs. adolescents and in parent reports of adolescents vs. adolescent self‐reports. Findings may be leveraged by researchers interested in maturational effects of ARFID symptoms in adolescents and adults via self‐reports on the NIAS and clinicians interested in tracking the convergence of parent and adolescent NIAS reports while undergoing treatment for ARFID.
Funding Information
  • Svenska Sällskapet för Medicinsk Forskning (PG‐22‐0478)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH124871, R56MH129437)

This publication has 26 references indexed in Scilit: