A validation of a questionnaire to assess consumer attitudes towards artificial sweeteners

Christiansen, Paul, Roberts, Carl ORCID: 0000-0003-4275-601X, Radu, Cristina and Hardman, Charlotte ORCID: 0000-0002-0744-6019 (2022) A validation of a questionnaire to assess consumer attitudes towards artificial sweeteners. Food Quality and Preference, 103. p. 104707.

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104707

Abstract

Bearth, Cousin, and Siegrist (2014) Perception of Artificial Sweetener Scale (PASS) has been widely used but has yet to be subject to thorough psychometric evaluation. The current study aimed to assess the factor structure and internal reliability of the scale, as well as assess its predictive utility. In a pre-registered study, 489 participants (age range 18–86 y) completed the attitudes towards sweeteners scale and a survey assessing their sweetener consumption over the past month. Initial confirmatory factor analysis showed an acceptable to poor fit of the scale largely due to three reverse coded items. Upon their removal model fit was excellent and McDonald's Omega values showed good internal reliability for all subscales. Zero inflated (hurdle) negative binomial regression revealed that higher scores on the risk subscale, lower scores on the benefit subscale, and older age were associated with avoidance of sweeteners. Of those who did consume sweeteners, greater perceived benefit was associated with increased consumption. The current study recommends that a shorter version of the PASS (PASS-23) should be used in future research with this scale showing good psychometric properties. Furthermore, it suggests that if sweetener over sugar consumption is to be encouraged, perceived risk and benefits should be targeted in public health messaging.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Sweeteners, Artificial, Attitudes, Risk, Benefit, Psychometrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2022 08:19
Last Modified:	18 Jan 2023 20:46
DOI:	10.1016/j.foodqual.2022.104707
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3162961