Development and validation of the Child Weight Risk Questionnaire.

PURPOSE

The study objective was to develop and validate a measure of parent perception of child weight-related risk, the Child Weight Risk Questionnaire (CWRQ), among a sample of US parents.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a sample of 216 parents of 6- to 12-year-old children who were overweight. The CWRQ was used to assess parent beliefs about their child's susceptibility to physical, social-emotional, and behavioral health problems due to weight.

RESULTS

Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure of the CWRQ and acceptable fit was achieved. The internal consistency of the measure was excellent. Convergent, discriminant, and incremental validity analyses provided initial evidence for CWRQ validity.

CONCLUSION

The CWRQ is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing parent perception of child weight-related risk. This measure could be utilized in research and applied settings to capture the multifaceted nature of parent risk perception and support efforts to tailor family weight interventions in ways that align with parent beliefs.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level V, cross-sectional, descriptive study.