Validation of the French version of the Four Facet Mindful Eating Scale (FFaMES-F).
Kimberly Carrière, Christian E Preissner, Nellie Siemers, Bärbel Knäuper
Psychological Assessment April 30, 2026 DOI: 10.1037/pas0001468 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Scale translation and validation study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | French-speaking adults from the province of Quebec (55.3% female; 84.6% primarily of North American origin) |
| Measures | Four Facet Mindful Eating Scale (FFaMES) |
| Topics | Meditation |
| Keywords | Humans Factor analysis, statistical Reproducibility of results Feeding behavior Psychometrics Translating Translations Middle aged Quebec Female Young adult |
| Key points | The French translation of the Four Facet Mindful Eating Scale (FFaMES-F) showed similar patterns of association to the original scale and adequate model fit in confirmatory factor analysis (robust RMSEA = 0.06, CFI = 0.98, TLI = 0.98, SRMR = 0.07). The authors conclude it supports the original four-factor model and demonstrates adequate construct validity, showing promise for clinical and research use. |
Abstract
Mindful eating has gained popularity as a tool for managing dysregulated eating behaviors and their related comorbidities. Given its increasing therapeutic use and application in experimental research, several mindful eating scales have been developed. Carrière, Shireen, et al. (2022) recently developed and validated the Four Facet Mindful Eating Scale (FFaMES) to address limitations of previous scales. Specifically, the FFaMES is a psychometrically robust measure that assesses both the attention and attitude components of mindful eating. Valid translations of the FFaMES into other languages are needed to increase its accessibility to non-English-speaking populations. The purpose of this study was to develop and validate a French translation of the FFaMES (FFaMES-F) among a French-speaking population. Participants were French-speaking adults from the province of Quebec (55.3% female) who primarily identified as being of North American origin (84.6%). Forward and back translations were conducted, and a committee approach was used throughout the translation process. The convergent validity and model fit of the FFaMES-F were assessed. The FFaMES-F demonstrated similar patterns of association as the original scale. Results of the confirmatory factor analysis suggest adequate model fit, χ²(371) = 1192.80, p < .001; robust root-mean-square error of approximation = 0.06, 90% CI [0.053, 0.063]; comparative fit index = 0.98; Tucker-Lewis index = 0.98; and standardized root-mean-square residual = 0.07. FFaMES-F supports the original four-factor model and demonstrates adequate construct validity. The scale shows promise as a tool for clinical practice and empirical research to assess mindful eating and its relationship with dysregulated eating behaviors. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2026 APA, all rights reserved).