Turkish Adaptation of the Mind-Eat Scale in Adults: A Validity and Reliability Study

Abstract Background Mindful eating has emerged as an important construct in promoting healthy eating behaviours and preventing obesity-related conditions. Although various scales are available, there is a need for a culturally adapted, multidimensional, and concise tool for the Turkish population. The aim of this study was to adapt the Mind-Eat Scale into Turkish and evaluate its validity and reliability in a Turkish adult population. Methods This cross-sectional validity and reliability study was conducted between June and September 2025 with 301 adults (59.8% female, median age 24.0 years) in Antalya, Türkiye. The Turkish adaptation followed standard translation and back-translation procedures. Face-to-face interviews were used to collect the data. The original Mind-Eat Scale, consists of 24 items, is answered using a 5-point Likert scale. Construct validity was evaluated through confirmatory factor analysis, while reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, composite reliability and test–retest analysis. Convergent validity was examined through correlations with the Mindful Eating Inventory (MEI). Results Confirmatory factor analysis supported the original six-factor structure, and fit indices indicated good model fit (χ²/df = 1.93, CFI = 0.92, RMSEA = 0.056, SRMR = 0.059). The Mind-Eat Scale-TR (MES-TR) factor loadings ranged from 0.41 to 0.89. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency ranged from 0.77 to 0.85 across subscales, with an overall value of 0.75. The results showed high test-retest reliability coefficients (r = 0.73 to 0.84), and no significant differences were observed between pre- and re-test scores (p > 0.05). A robust positive correlation was found between the MES-TR and MEI (r = 0.684, p < 0.001). Conclusions The Turkish version of the MES is a valid and reliable multidimensional instrument for assessing mindful eating behaviours in adults.