Psychometric Properties of the Mindful Eating Questionnaire for Elementary School Children in Mexico

Introduction: Introduction: mindful eating involves applying mindfulness to thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, and behaviors related to eating. It is increasingly recognized as a strategy for promoting healthy eating habits and supporting weight management. However, most existing questionnaires assessing mindful eating have been developed primarily for adults. Objective: to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Mindful Eating Questionnaire (MEQ), translated and adapted for school-aged children in Mexico. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted involving the translation, back-translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the MEQ. A total of 400 elementary school students from northern Mexico participated. Psychometric evaluation included exploratory factor analysis (EFA), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and internal consistency assessment. Results: EFA supported a two-factor model with 13 items. Fit indices were satisfactory: CFI = 0.933, TLI = 0.919, GFI = 0.959, and RMSEA = 0.041. All items in the adjusted model showed acceptable factor loadings (> 0.400, p < 0.001). Two factors were identified: Mindless Eating (7 items; α = 0.709) and Mindful Eating (6 items; α = 0.646). Conclusions: the school version of the MEQ, referred to as MEQ-N (Mindful Eating Questionnaire adapted for children in Mexico) is proposed. While the reliability indices are acceptable, they suggest room for improvement. Further research using qualitative methods such as interviews is recommended to better understand how school-aged children conceptualize mindful eating.