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Psychometric properties of the Weight Locus of Control Scale (MWLCS): study with Spanish individuals of different anthropometric nutritional status

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Abstract

Introduction

The Multidimensional Weight Locus of Control Scale (MWLCS) measures a person’s beliefs regarding the locus of control or lack of locus of control over his/her body weight.

Purpose

We aim to evaluate the factorial structure and psychometric properties of the MWLCS with Spanish normal weight, overweight and obese samples.

Methods

The research was carried out in two different studies. The first included a sample of 140 normal weight participants, selected out of a 274 sample recruited with an online survey. Study 2 was carried out in a sample of 633 participants recruited from the PREDIMED-Plus study. Out of them, 558 participants fulfilled the weight criteria and were categorized into: overweight (BMI 25 − < 29.99; N = 170), obese class I (BMI 30 − < 34.99; N = 266), and obese class II (BMI 35 − < 39.99; N = 122). Exploratory (EFA) and confirmatory (CFA) factor analyses were used to evaluate the factor structure of the MWLCS, and reliabilities and Spearman’s correlations were estimated. Invariance measurement was tested across the three subgroups of weight in Study 2.

Results

A three-factor structure indicating weight locus of control factors (internal, chance, and powerful others) was supported, both via EFA in the normal weight sample and CFA in the overweight and obese samples. In the normal weight sample, the powerful others dimension was positively related to BMI and the dimensions of the Dutch Eating Behaviors Questionnaire. Additionally, the scale showed evidence of scalar invariance across the groups with different weight conditions.

Conclusions

This scale seems to be a psychometrically appropriate instrument and its use is highly recommended when designing interventions for overweight or obese individuals.

Level of evidence

Level V, descriptive study.

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Acknowledgements

CIBEROBN is an initiative of the ISCIII (Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain). We thank the PREDIMEDPLUS Biobank Network, part of the National Biobank Platform of Instituto de Salud Carlos III for storing and managing biological samples. We thank to Research Council (Grant 340918) and PROMETEO Grant (17/2017) from the Generalitat Valenciana. The PREDIMED-Plus trial was supported by the official Spanish Institutions for funding scientific biomedical research, CIBER Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), through the Fondo de Investigación para la Salud (FIS), which is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (four coordinated FIS projects leaded by J.S.-S. and J.Vi., including the following projects: PI13/00673, PI13/00492, PI13/00272, PI13/01123, PI13/00462, PI13/00233, PI13/02184, PI13/00728, PI13/01090, PI13/01056, PI14/01722, PI14/00636, PI14/00618, PI14/00696, PI14/01206, PI14/01919, PI14/00853, PI14/01374, PI14/00972, PI14/00728, PI14/01471, PI16/00473, PI16/00662, PI16/01873, PI16/01094, PI16/00501, PI16/00533, PI16/00381, PI16/00366, PI16/01522, PI16/01120, PI17/00764, PI17/01183, PI17/00855, PI17/01347, PI17/00525, PI17/01827, PI17/00532, PI17/00215, PI17/01441, PI17/00508, PI17/01732, and PI17/00926), the Especial Action Project entitled: Implementación y evaluación de una intervención intensiva sobre la actividad física Cohorte PREDIMED-Plus grant to J.S.-S., the European Research Council (Advanced Research Grant 2013–2018, 340918) to M.Á.M.-G., the Recercaixa grant to J.S.-S. (2013ACUP00194), grants from the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI0458/2013, PS0358/2016, and PI0137/2018), a grant from the Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO/2017/017), a SEMERGEN grant, and funds from the European Regional Development Fund (CB06/03).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, Universitat de València, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010, València, Spain

    A. Cebolla & R. Baños

  2. CIBER Fisiopatología Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERObn), Instituto Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

    A. Cebolla, C. Botella, F. Fernández-Aranda, D. Corella, Jordi Salas-Salvadó, M. Fitó, D. Romaguera, J. Wärnberg, L. L. Serra-Majem, X. Pintó, J. V. Sorlí, A. Díaz-López, R. De la Torre, M. Fernández de Mott, B. V. Díaz González, E. Corbella, A. Yañez & R. Baños

  3. Department of Basic Psychology, Clinic and Psychobiology, Universitat Jaume I, Castelló, Spain

    C. Botella

  4. Department of Methodology for the Behavioral Sciences, Universitat de València, València, Spain

    L. Galiana

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, Spain

    F. Fernández-Aranda

  6. Servicio Navarro de Salud-Atención Primaria, Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain

    P. Buil-Cosiales

  7. Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain

    D. Corella & J. V. Sorlí

  8. Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Nutrition unit; Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV); University Hospital of Sant Joan de Reus, Nutrition Unit, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Spain

    Jordi Salas-Salvadó & A. Díaz-López

  9. Hospital del Mar Research Institute (IMIM), Barcelona, Spain

    M. Fitó & R. De la Torre

  10. Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Illes Balears (IdISBa), University Hospital of Son Espases, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    D. Romaguera

  11. Department of Nursing, University of Málaga-IBIMA, Málaga, Spain

    J. Wärnberg & M. Fernández de Mott

  12. Research Institute of Biomedical and Health Sciences (IUIBS), Preventive Medicine Service, Centro Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno Infantil (CHUIMI), Canarian Health Service, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain

    L. L. Serra-Majem & B. V. Díaz González

  13. Lipid Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, Bellvitge BiomedicalResearch Institute (IDIBELL)-Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain

    X. Pintó & E. Corbella

  14. Department of Nursing and Physiotherapy, Universitat de les Illes Balears, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    A. Yañez

  15. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Navarra, Institute for Health Research, Pamplona, Spain

    E. Toledo

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  1. A. Cebolla
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  2. C. Botella
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  3. L. Galiana
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  5. E. Toledo
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  6. D. Corella
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  7. Jordi Salas-Salvadó
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  11. L. L. Serra-Majem
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  13. P. Buil-Cosiales
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  14. J. V. Sorlí
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  15. A. Díaz-López
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  17. M. Fernández de Mott
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  18. B. V. Díaz González
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  19. E. Corbella
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  20. A. Yañez
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  21. R. Baños
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Baños.

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The study protocol and procedures were approved according to the ethical standards of the Declaration of Helsinki by the Research Ethics Committees from all the participating institutions.

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Cebolla, A., Botella, C., Galiana, L. et al. Psychometric properties of the Weight Locus of Control Scale (MWLCS): study with Spanish individuals of different anthropometric nutritional status. Eat Weight Disord 25, 1533–1542 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00788-4

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