Extending the Validity of the Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire Solid Feeding Version (FPSQ-S) to Mothers and Fathers Living with Socioeconomic Disadvantage

Smita Nambiar; Jeffrey T. H. So; Elena Jansen

doi:10.3390/nu18132046

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Extending the Validity of the Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire Solid Feeding Version (FPSQ-S) to Mothers and Fathers Living with Socioeconomic Disadvantage

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Extending the Validity of the Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire Solid Feeding Version (FPSQ-S) to Mothers and Fathers Living with Socioeconomic Disadvantage

Smita Nambiar, Jeffrey T. H. So and Elena Jansen

Nutrients, Vol.18(13), pp.1-19

2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu18132046

PMCID: PMC13362640

PMID: 42451050

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Abstract

responsive feeding

confirmatory factor analysis

feeding practices questionnaire

mothers

fathers

socioeconomically disadvantage

infants and children

Background/Objective: Parental feeding practices play an important role in shaping children's dietary intake, eating behaviours, and long-term health outcomes. Although several questionnaires assess feeding practices, few have been validated among socioeconomically disadvantaged populations, despite these groups being disproportionately affected by food insecurity and diet-related health inequities. This study assessed the structural validity and internal consistency of the Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire-Solid Feeding version (FPSQ-S)-among socioeconomically disadvantaged mothers and fathers of young children. Methods: Two cross-sectional online surveys were conducted with 178 mothers and 94 fathers of children aged 5-35 months living in disadvantaged households. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine the structural validity of the FPSQ-S. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha and Hancock's H coefficients. Results: The original six-factor FPSQ-S structure was retained and demonstrated acceptable overall model fit in this disadvantaged sample (CFI = 0.846, TLI = 0.821, RMSEA = 0.070). Internal consistency ranged from acceptable to excellent across subscales (Cronbach's alpha = 0.63-0.93; Hancock's H = 0.64-0.93). Most items loaded satisfactorily onto their intended constructs; however, two items within the Feeding on Demand construct demonstrated weak factor loadings, and this construct showed lower reliability than the remaining subscales Conclusions: This is the first study to evaluate the FPSQ-S among socioeconomically disadvantaged mothers and fathers of children aged 5-35 months. The FPSQ-S demonstrated acceptable structural validity and reliability. While the six-factor structure was largely supported, further refinement of the Feeding on Demand construct and additional psychometric evaluation are warranted.

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Title: Extending the Validity of the Feeding Practices and Structure Questionnaire Solid Feeding Version (FPSQ-S) to Mothers and Fathers Living with Socioeconomic Disadvantage
Authors: Smita Nambiar (Corresponding Author) - Queensland University of Technology
Jeffrey T. H. So - University of the Sunshine Coast
Elena Jansen - Johns Hopkins University
Publication details: Nutrients, Vol.18(13), pp.1-19
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date published: 2026
DOI: 10.3390/nu18132046
ISSN: 2072-6643
PMID: 42451050; PMC13362640
Copyright note: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license.
Data Availability: The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author due to ongoing analysis with these data sets.
Grant note: JTHS received a PhD scholarship from QUT with a top-up from the Queensland Children’s Hospital Foundation (QCHF) via a philanthropic grant from the commercial funder Woolworths. Responsive Feeding in Tough Times research program was supported by a grant from the Children’s Hospital Foundation (Reference number WCCNR03) as part of the Centre for Childhood Nutrition Research (CCNR).
Organisation Unit: School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991250407902621
Output Type: Journal article

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