Construct Validity of a Dietary Protein Assessment Questionnaire to Explore College Students' Attitudes Towards Dietary Protein

Abstract Background: Misconceptions about consuming dietary protein may exist due to unscientific dietary information from the Internet and social media sites, as well as lack of knowledge about evidence-based dietary recommendations. Understanding attitudes towards protein is important for developing effective educational interventions, which may ultimately improve the health of U.S. adults. The objective of this study was to develop a questionnaire to evaluate college students’ attitudes and knowledge towards dietary protein. Methods: The questionnaire had 64 questions, including 8 demographic, 24 knowledge, 14 attitude, and 18 behavior questions. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with a principal axis factoring and promax rotation was used to explore the attitude constructs’ dimensionality. Nutrition students’ knowledge responses were compared to non-nutrition students’ responses to assess the knowledge validity. Results: Four hundred seventy participants (87.3% female) provided responses for attitude questions. Fifty-five nutrition and 51 non-nutrition students provided responses for the knowledge questions. Three factors were retained: animal versus plant protein sources relationship with human and environmental health (Factor 1); organic protein sources (Factor 2); and protein RDA adequacy for weight loss and vegetarian diets (Factor 3). Mean knowledge responses were 66.4 + 11.5% and 47.6 + 16.4% for nutrition and non-nutrition students, respectively (t-test p-value for difference < 0.001). Conclusions: Protein attitudes appear multidimensional and correlated. Further testing is needed to confirm the three-factor model and to estimate test-retest reliability.