Psychometric validation of the Romanian Scenario-Based Dieting Self-Efficacy Scale in adults with overweight and obesity.

INTRODUCTION

Overweight and obesity require sustained changes in eating behaviour, yet long-term adherence to dietary recommendations remains difficult. Dieting self-efficacy, defined as confidence in managing eating-related challenges, is an important self-regulatory construct in weight management. This study aimed to translate and evaluate the psychometric properties of the Romanian version of the Scenario-Based Dieting Self-Efficacy Scale (DIET-SE) in adults with overweight and obesity.

METHODS

A total of 509 adults from the general Romanian population completed an online survey between February and April 2026. For the validation analyses, 243 participants with BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 were included. The sample was randomly divided into two independent subsamples for exploratory factor analysis (EFA; n = 123) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA; n = 120). Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, test-retest reliability using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and construct validity through associations with intuitive eating, BMI, perceived stress, body image, self-rated health, and fruit and vegetable intake.

RESULTS

EFA supported a three-factor structure consistent with the original instrument, comprising Social and Internal Factors, Negative Emotional Events, and High-Caloric Food, which explained 52.9% of the total variance. CFA provided acceptable support for this structure, with CFI = 0.935, TLI = 0.908, SRMR = 0.058, and RMSEA = 0.090. Internal consistency was good for the total scale (Cronbach's alpha = 0.872) and acceptable to good for the subscales. Test-retest reliability was excellent (ICC = 0.942). The DIET-SE total score showed positive correlations with the Intuitive Eating Scale-2 total score and with the Reliance on Hunger and Satiety Cues and Body-Food Choice Congruence subscales. Lower dieting self-efficacy was associated with higher BMI, greater perceived stress, larger perceived body shape, and greater discrepancy between perceived and desired body shape, while higher scores were associated with better self-rated health and higher fruit and vegetable intake.

CONCLUSION

The Romanian version of the DIET-SE demonstrated satisfactory validity and reliability in adults with overweight and obesity and may be useful for assessing eating-related self-efficacy in research and clinical contexts.