Validation of the Arabic version of the Mukbang Addiction Scale

Validation of the Arabic version of the Mukbang Addiction Scale | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Validation of the Arabic version of the Mukbang Addiction Scale Wizra Saeed, Nisma Merdad, Rizwana Amin, Tabassum Rashid, Souheil Hallit, and 1 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3991776/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 9 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Introduction: The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Arabic translation of the Mukbang Addiction Scale (MAS) among Arabic-speaking adults from the general population. Specifically, it aimed to assess the factorial structure through a confirmatory factor analysis, determine the composite reliability through Cronbach alpha and McDonald's omega scores, assess gender invariance, and evaluate the convergent validity by examining its correlation to eating addiction and psychological distress. Methods A total of 370 individuals with a mean age of 21.94 ± 2.29 years participated in this study, which was conducted using an online platform. The participants were surveyed on demographic information, mukbang addiction, food addiction, and psychological distress. Translation was conducted using the forward and backward technique. Results The findings demonstrated excellent internal consistency of the Arabic MAS (McDonald's omega coefficient = .93). Confirmatory factor analyses validated the one-factor structure of the scale, while establishing measurement invariance across sex at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. No sex differences were observed in the Mukbang addiction levels. Lastly, the MAS scores were significantly and positively correlated with food addiction and psychological distress, supporting their convergent validity. Conclusion The current research provides evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the MAS as a self-report method for assessing addictive Mukbang watching. While further validations are needed to corroborate the present findings, this measure can be effectively utilized across different fields, including schools, mental health centers, and researchers aiming to understand this global phenomenon. MAS Mukbang addiction addictive Mukbang watching Arabic Psychometric properties Figures Figure 1 INTRODUCTION The term "mukbang" comes from the Korean words "muk-da" (meaning "to eat") and "bang-song" (meaning "broadcast"). Mukbang phenomenon refers to individuals or hosts consuming large quantities of food while interacting with their audiences via a live stream or recorded video [ 1 ]. As a result of the wide variety of food presented in a visually stimulating manner in mukbang videos, mukbang videos have gained substantial popularity among young adults; watching these videos often triggers a sense of pleasure that is similar to enjoying a satisfying meal [ 2 – 4 ]. One reason behind the rising popularity of mukbang among adolescents is its unique appeal as a form of entertainment, escapism, and its ability to foster a sense of community. Through online platforms, adolescents can connect with like-minded individuals who share their passion for food and eating challenges [ 5 ]. However, the rising popularity of mukbang raises concerns about its potential impact on adolescent eating habits and health. The key area of concern is the prospective influence mukbang may have on unhealthy eating behaviors. As adolescents observe excessive food consumption during these videos, they might be more likely to adopt similar habits in their daily lives. This could lead to overeating or indulging in unhealthy foods high in calories, sugar, and fat [ 6 ]. Consequently, the prevalence of obesity and other diet-related health issues among adolescents could increase. Moreover, mukbang's focus on quantity rather than quality may lead to a neglect of balanced nutrition [ 7 ]. This is especially essential as obesity in children is a severe problem in the Arab world [ 8 ]. In fact, problematic mukbang viewing was related to disordered eating habits such as purging and binge eating [ 9 , 10 ]. Compulsion to watch mukbang videos as a coping strategy could lead to compulsive behaviors similar to addiction [ 10 ]. Food displays and eating sounds trigger the release of dopamine in the brain. The dopamine rush causes viewers to seek satisfaction and pleasure repeatedly, leading to an addictive cycle [ 11 ]. Several critical research studies examined the potential negative psychological effects of mukbang watching and shed light on their potential adverse effects. Overconsumption of mukbang content has been shown to negatively affect mental well-being by creating feelings of guilt, shame, poor self-esteem, distorted self-images, body dissatisfaction, heightened anxiety or depression, and social isolation due to users' preference for online social engagement over in-person ones [ 9 , 10 , 12 – 14 ]. The Mukbang Addiction Scale (MAS) was developed in 2021 to assess Mukbang addiction behaviors in Turkey [ 15 ]. The scale was based on the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale and modified to replace the word Facebook with the word mukbang watching [ 16 ]. It consists of six items which assess different aspects of mukbang addiction such as the frequency and duration of viewing mukbang videos, cravings that result from viewing the videos, and any negative consequences. The items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from “very rarely” to “very often”. For example, “ How often in the past year have you spent a lot of time thinking about mukbang or planned watching mukbang ?”. The Arabic version of this scale has not yet been evaluated. Rationale of the present study The translation of the MAS into Arabic holds significant value for various reasons. Firstly, Arabic is spoken by over 100 million people worldwide, making it one of the most widely spoken languages globally. With the scale being translated, it will allow a larger audience to access it, including those who may not be fluent in English. Secondly, the trend of mukbang has gained immense popularity worldwide, including in Arabic-speaking communities. Having a standardized scale to measure mukbang addiction will enable researchers and mental health professionals to understand the impact of this trend on individuals and communities better. Lastly, it is crucial to acknowledge that cultural and linguistic differences can impact how addiction is perceived and treated. The acceptance of mukbang among individuals of Arab cultures may be influenced by various social and cultural factors [ 17 ]. Sharing meals is deeply ingrained in Arabian societies, and watching others eat large amounts of food can provide a sense of connection or enjoyment for those who may not have access to such feasts. Moreover, traditional beliefs that encourage overeating as a sign of prosperity and generosity may contribute to the acceptance of mukbang among Arab individuals [ 18 ]. As Mukbang addiction potentially affects mental and physical health, understanding the prevalence and severity of mukbang addiction among Arab speaking people is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies [ 19 ]. Additionally, providing a valid measure of mukbang addiction for use among Arabs may enable investigating the psychological and social consequences of this addictive behavior, and shed light on its impact on mental health, eating habits, body image perception, academic performance, and overall well-being [ 20 ]. With the scale available in Arabic, mental health professionals can comprehend the unique cultural and linguistic nuances of mukbang addiction in Arabic-speaking communities, providing tailored treatment accordingly. In addition, studying mukbang across different cultures is essential to understanding the impact of media globalization on behavior and the potential ramifications on viewers' mental well-being. For example, a cross-cultural study was done to analyze the antecedents of attitudes towards mukbang. This study found that mukbang shows are more likely to be watched by Asians because of the host's attractiveness and social normative impact; whereas Caucasians are more likely to watch these shows because they are perceived as novel [ 21 ]. In this context, this study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the MAS in Arabic-speaking community adults from Saudi Arabia. It was hypothesized that (1) the Arabic version of MAS will replicate the one-factor structure proposed in the original version; and (2) the scale will show acceptable internal consistency, and invariance across sex groups; (3) MAS scores will correlate with measures of food addiction and psychological distress, supporting convergent validity. METHODS Participants The present study employed an online questionnaire and convenient sampling technique to approach the participants. An online questionnaire was posted on social media sites, and adults willing to participate filled out the questionnaire. Arabic-speaking adults aged over 18 years were the target population for the study. A total of 370 adults with a mean age of 21.94 ± 2.29 years participated. Procedures Ethical considerations An ethical approval letter was issued by a Saudi university (RCI_REC/1. Mar.2023 /7.1.Exp.16) Google form consisted of consent sheet, demographic information, MAS, Yale food addiction scale and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-8) was prepared and shared on social media sites. Participation in the study was voluntarily, and young adults willing to participate filled out the questionnaire. The research team has continued to share the questionnaire on social media sites for a 6-month time period. The research data supporting the findings has been securely stored on the server of a Saudi university for the purpose of maintaining its integrity for a period of seven years following its publication. Adaptation and translation For this study, the MAS was translated using the 'forward-backward-forward' technique aligned with the Principles of Good Practice for Translation and Cultural Adaptation [ 22 ]. Initially, the questionnaire was translated into Arabic by a specialized translator, who then collaborated with two experts to review the translation. Subsequently, the translated version was converted back into English by another translator. Both experts and the researchers actively participated in the process of matching and evaluating the theoretical equivalence to establish the final version in Arabic (forward). Measures The modified version of Yale Food Addiction Scale The Arabic version of the scale was used to assess food addiction severity [ 23 , 24 ]. The scale has nine questions aligned with the seven DSM-IV-TR dependence criteria. Each question is scored on a Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (four times a week to daily) (ω = .89; α = .89). The Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS-8) The DASS-8 was used to evaluate psychological distress [ 25 , 26 ]. It is comprised of eight items, rated from 0 (does not apply to me) to 3 (applies to me a lot or most of the times), divided into three subscales: depression, anxiety, and stress (ω = .90; α = .90). Statistical analysis The dataset did not contain any missing responses. In order to determine the factor structure of the MBS, we conducted a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with the data collected from the total sample, using SPSS AMOS v.28 software. Considering a sample size of three to twenty times the number of variables in the scale, 120 participants were required [ 27 ]. In this study, we intended to test the original scale model. The maximum likelihood method was used to estimate the parameters. Calculated fit indices were the normed model chi-square (χ²/df), the Steiger-Lind root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), the Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) and the comparative fit index (CFI). Values ≤ 5 for χ²/df, and ≤ .08 for RMSEA, and .95 for CFI and TLI indicate good fit of the model to the data [ 28 ]. In order to verify convergent validity, the Average Variance Extraction (AVE) was calculated (values of 0.5 or more are considered adequate). At first, multivariate normality was not verified (Critical ratio > 5; Bollen-Stine p = .002); therefore, nonparametric bootstrapping was performed. A value of greater than .70 indicates adequate composite reliability in both subsamples using McDonald's ω and Cronbach's alpha. Multi-group CFA was conducted to examine sex invariance of MAS scores [ 29 ] using the total sample. The measurement invariance was assessed at three levels: configural, metric, and scalar [ 30 ]. We accepted ΔCFI ≤ .010 and ΔRMSEA ≤ .015 or ΔSRMR ≤ .010 as evidence of invariance [ 29 ]. The SPSS software v.25 was used for the remaining statistical analysis. The MBS score was considered normally distributed since the skewness and kurtosis varied between − 1.96 and + 1.96. The Student’s t test was used to compare two means, whereas the Pearson test was used to correlate two continuous variables. P < 0.05 was deemed statistically significant. RESULTS Participants’ characteristics are displayed in Table 1 . The majority of individuals were females (82.2%) and had a university educational level (88.4%). Table 1 Characteristics of the sample (n = 370) Sex Male 66 (17.8%) Female 304 (82.2%) Educational level Secondary or less 43 (11.6%) University 327 (88.4%) Age (years) 21.94 ± 2.29 Mukbang addiction 11.11 ± 5.93 Food addiction 12.20 ± 7.91 Psychological distress 11.48 ± 6.21 Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the MBS scale CFA indicated that fit of the one-factor model of MAS scores was poor: χ 2 /df = 173.46/9 = 19.27, RMSEA = .223 (90% CI .194, .252), SRMR = .054, CFI = .908, TLI = .847. We added a correlation between residuals of items 1 and 2 since the modification index was high; the numbers improved as follows: χ 2 /df = 32.49/8 = 4.06, RMSEA = .091 (90% CI .060, .125), SRMR = .024, CFI = .986, TLI = .974. The standardized estimates of factor loadings were all adequate (see Fig. 1 ). Internal reliability was excellent (ω = .93; α = .93). The AVE value was satisfactory = .67. Sex Invariance Indices suggested that configural, metric, and scalar invariance was supported across sex (Table 3 ). No significant difference was found between males ( M = 11.56, SD = 6.83) and females ( M = 11.01, SD = 5.72) in terms of Mukbang behaviors, t (368) = .69, p = .492. Table 3 Measurement Invariance across sex in the total sample. Model CFI RMSEA SRMR Model Comparison ΔCFI ΔRMSEA ΔSRMR Configural .972 .096 .020 Metric .969 .087 .022 Configural vs metric .003 .009 .002 Scalar .959 .091 .023 Metric vs scalar .010 .004 .001 Note. CFI = Comparative fit index; RMSEA = Steiger-Lind root mean square error of approximation; SRMR = Standardized root mean square residual. Concurrent validity Higher Mukbang addiction scores were significantly associated with more psychological distress (r = 0.29; p < .001) and more food addiction (r = .26; p < .001). DISCUSSION This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the MAS in Arabic-speaking individuals residing in Saudi Arabia. As anticipated, the Arabic version of the MAS demonstrated strong internal consistency and convergent validity. It also revealed that the one-factor model proposed by the original developers of the questionnaire was fitting. The study supports the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the MAS. Using the one-factor model proposed by the original questionnaire developers, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed to examine fit indices in the current study [ 31 ]. According to the results, the one factor model fits the data well only after adding a correlation between residuals of items 1 and 2. The factor loadings were appropriate ranging from 0.78 to 0.52 [ 32 ]. Furthermore, the reliability of the scale exhibited excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha score of .93, mirroring the internal reliability of the original article, which stood at .95 [ 31 ]. In addition, this study assessed the McDonald’s ω scores (ω = .93) which was not assessed in the previous validation studies for this scale. These results demonstrate that the MAS has good internal consistency. The results also demonstrated sex invariance within the sample. This indicates that the scale exhibits equal applicability in Arabic-speaking men and women participants. In this study, there was no significant sex difference in mukbang behaviors. This contrasts with another study that indicates that men had lower MAS scores than women [ 19 ]. However, it is important to note that this study utilized a heavy female sample, which may have impacted the results. The final finding of the study provided support for concurrent validity, by establishing a correlation between mukbang addiction and some psychological problems, specifically, psychological distress and food addiction. This finding is congruent with a previous study that reported a link between problematic mukbang watching and psychological distress [ 19 ]. There are several plausible explanations for this phenomenon. One possibility is that individuals may engage in mukbang viewing as a means of escaping from daily stressors [ 33 , 34 ]. In terms of food addiction, recent research has shed light on the association between mukbang addiction and various purging and binge eating behaviors, as well as disordered eating habits [ 9 , 10 , 15 ]. The research conducted in this field indicates that individuals who exhibit addictive behavior towards mukbang may utilize watching these videos as a strategy to prevent the occurrence of binge eating episodes. The reasoning behind this phenomenon could be that individuals experience a sense of "having someone eat for them" while viewing mukbang videos, which effectively decreases the likelihood of engaging in binge eating habits [ 10 ]. This could suggest that individuals with a tendency to exhibit addictive behaviors towards food may exhibit a greater inclination towards watching mukbang. Additionally, it is plausible that the act of watching mukbang may exacerbate the underlying feelings of food addiction in these individuals. One noteworthy observation derived from a study analyzing comments posted beneath mukbang videos on YouTube was the high percentage of comments reflecting a history of binge eating [ 10 ]. Furthermore, these comments frequently emphasized how viewing mukbang videos could set off a resurgence of uncontrollable eating episodes. These discoveries raise concerns about the possibility that mukbang may act as a trigger for individuals who have a history of binge eating. Overall, these findings merit heightened attention. Study limitations This study showed encouraging results when evaluating the reliability and validity of the MAS in a sample of Arabic-speaking adults in Saudi Arabia. However, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations. Firstly, it is important to note that the sample was from a single Arab country, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to the rest of the country or the Arab world. Therefore, it is crucial to replicate this study in more representative samples from other Arabic-speaking countries or communities. Secondly, this research utilized a cross-sectional design, which precluded the examination of certain psychometric properties, such as test-retest reliability. Additionally, it is important to acknowledge that our sample was disproportionately composed of highly educated females, which may have affected the results obtained. Finally, the scale still needs to be validated in clinical samples (e.g., individuals with eating disorders). Conclusion The Arabic MAS exhibited adequate psychometric properties, making it a potentially reliable instrument for assessing addictive mukbang watching. As the popularity of mukbang-watching increases worldwide, including in the Arab world, and as it has been linked to disordered eating habits and psychological issues, this scale can be employed by clinicians, mental health professionals, and researchers to gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. As a result, we hope that providing evidence for the validity and reliability of the Arabic MAS will foster its use in future research, to help implement evidence-informed treatment and support programs in Arab settings. Declarations Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate: Ethical approval was granted by a Saudi based university (RCI_REC/21.Feb.2023/7.1.Exp.13) and the Saudi Ministry of Education (The Ethical approval letter 4401008619). A written informed consent was considered obtained from each participant when submitting the online form and from parents or the legal guardian(s) of the participants below 16 years of age involved in the study. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations. Consent for publication : Not applicable. Availability of data and materials : The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request. Competing interests : The authors have nothing to disclose. Funding : None. Author contributions : NM, TR, FFR and SH designed the study; WS, NM and RA drafted the manuscript; SH carried out the analysis and interpreted the results; NM and TR collected the data; TR, SH and FFR reviewed the paper for intellectual content; all authors reviewed the final manuscript and gave their consent. Acknowledgements : The authors would like to thank all participants. References Choe, H., Eating together multimodally: Collaborative eating in mukbang, a Korean livestream of eating. Language in Society, 2019. 48 (2): p. 171-208. Anjani, L., et al. Why do people watch others eat food? An Empirical Study on the Motivations and Practices of Mukbang Viewers . in Proceedings of the 2020 CHI conference on human factors in computing systems . 2020. Kang, E., et al., The popularity of eating broadcast: Content analysis of “mukbang” YouTube videos, media coverage, and the health impact of “mukbang” on public. Health informatics journal, 2020. 26 (3): p. 2237-2248. 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Cureus, 2023. 15 (8). Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 16 Apr, 2024 Reviews received at journal 16 Apr, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 16 Apr, 2024 Reviews received at journal 13 Mar, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 04 Mar, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 03 Mar, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 01 Mar, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 01 Mar, 2024 First submitted to journal 26 Feb, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-3991776","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":276342860,"identity":"4fc712d6-3e2d-40c8-8bb2-fe0e9b5bc10a","order_by":0,"name":"Wizra Saeed","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Effat University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Wizra","middleName":"","lastName":"Saeed","suffix":""},{"id":276342861,"identity":"2dc5f1e8-b702-463e-8698-de060203880e","order_by":1,"name":"Nisma Merdad","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Effat University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Nisma","middleName":"","lastName":"Merdad","suffix":""},{"id":276342862,"identity":"d062f6b9-4e62-4b74-bb61-ff7ab879d25a","order_by":2,"name":"Rizwana Amin","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Effat University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Rizwana","middleName":"","lastName":"Amin","suffix":""},{"id":276342863,"identity":"b8c9ce76-0efe-459b-9cbd-604b323dc8e4","order_by":3,"name":"Tabassum Rashid","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Effat University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Tabassum","middleName":"","lastName":"Rashid","suffix":""},{"id":276342864,"identity":"29f0d12b-3474-447b-8242-3fb4467c5e64","order_by":4,"name":"Souheil Hallit","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABBklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYHACNgYGA4sEBnbmhgMMFUA+DwTLGODXIpHAwMzYcODAGYQWHvxaGCBaGA62EaFFvr3H7MGHAok8/mbGxsMf5x225+c5wPjgbRsDjzkOLQZnzpgbzjCQKJY4DHTYwW2HE2f2NjAbzgVqsWzAoUUix0yax0AisQGqJcHgPAObNC9Qi8EBHA6bAdTyB6hlPljLnMP29ucZ2H/j08JwA6gFaFfiBrAWoF0beBvYmPFpMThzrEyyB6hlI0jLmWPpiTPOHGyWnHNOAqdf5Nubt0n8+GOTOO948+EPFTXW9vw9yQc/vCmzkcMVYtgAI8h4CRI0jIJRMApGwShABwD8Clzecqzy/AAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"Effat University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Souheil","middleName":"","lastName":"Hallit","suffix":""},{"id":276342865,"identity":"33430428-ca64-4d63-b5fb-ee7ee94e8db8","order_by":5,"name":"Feten Fekih-Romdhane","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Razi Hospital","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Feten","middleName":"","lastName":"Fekih-Romdhane","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-02-26 19:20:56","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3991776/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3991776/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":52035880,"identity":"76565f04-06d9-4735-8a83-167abbe7e456","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-03-05 17:04:34","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":49469,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eStandardized Estimates of Factor Loadings from the Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) in the total sample.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage1.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3991776/v1/5602fc84bdb464ba6c8c9089.png"},{"id":52036810,"identity":"0ad81568-15cc-4905-a2d0-78480c21d5eb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-03-05 17:12:34","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":371024,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-3991776/v1/7e7ac54d-e62c-45bb-be8e-bd536ce30ecd.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Validation of the Arabic version of the Mukbang Addiction Scale","fulltext":[{"header":"INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe term \"mukbang\" comes from the Korean words \"muk-da\" (meaning \"to eat\") and \"bang-song\" (meaning \"broadcast\"). Mukbang phenomenon refers to individuals or hosts consuming large quantities of food while interacting with their audiences via a live stream or recorded video [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. As a result of the wide variety of food presented in a visually stimulating manner in mukbang videos, mukbang videos have gained substantial popularity among young adults; watching these videos often triggers a sense of pleasure that is similar to enjoying a satisfying meal [\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR3\" citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOne reason behind the rising popularity of mukbang among adolescents is its unique appeal as a form of entertainment, escapism, and its ability to foster a sense of community. Through online platforms, adolescents can connect with like-minded individuals who share their passion for food and eating challenges [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e]. However, the rising popularity of mukbang raises concerns about its potential impact on adolescent eating habits and health. The key area of concern is the prospective influence mukbang may have on unhealthy eating behaviors. As adolescents observe excessive food consumption during these videos, they might be more likely to adopt similar habits in their daily lives. This could lead to overeating or indulging in unhealthy foods high in calories, sugar, and fat [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e]. Consequently, the prevalence of obesity and other diet-related health issues among adolescents could increase. Moreover, mukbang's focus on quantity rather than quality may lead to a neglect of balanced nutrition [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e]. This is especially essential as obesity in children is a severe problem in the Arab world [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e]. In fact, problematic mukbang viewing was related to disordered eating habits such as purging and binge eating [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eCompulsion to watch mukbang videos as a coping strategy could lead to compulsive behaviors similar to addiction [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. Food displays and eating sounds trigger the release of dopamine in the brain. The dopamine rush causes viewers to seek satisfaction and pleasure repeatedly, leading to an addictive cycle [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e]. Several critical research studies examined the potential negative psychological effects of mukbang watching and shed light on their potential adverse effects. Overconsumption of mukbang content has been shown to negatively affect mental well-being by creating feelings of guilt, shame, poor self-esteem, distorted self-images, body dissatisfaction, heightened anxiety or depression, and social isolation due to users' preference for online social engagement over in-person ones [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR13\" citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Mukbang Addiction Scale (MAS) was developed in 2021 to assess Mukbang addiction behaviors in Turkey [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. The scale was based on the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale and modified to replace the word \u003cem\u003eFacebook\u003c/em\u003e with the word \u003cem\u003emukbang watching\u003c/em\u003e [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e]. It consists of six items which assess different aspects of mukbang addiction such as the frequency and duration of viewing mukbang videos, cravings that result from viewing the videos, and any negative consequences. The items are scored on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from \u0026ldquo;very rarely\u0026rdquo; to \u0026ldquo;very often\u0026rdquo;. For example, \u0026ldquo;\u003cem\u003eHow often in the past year have you spent a lot of time thinking about mukbang or planned watching mukbang\u003c/em\u003e?\u0026rdquo;. The Arabic version of this scale has not yet been evaluated.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec2\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eRationale of the present study\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe translation of the MAS into Arabic holds significant value for various reasons. Firstly, Arabic is spoken by over 100\u0026nbsp;million people worldwide, making it one of the most widely spoken languages globally. With the scale being translated, it will allow a larger audience to access it, including those who may not be fluent in English. Secondly, the trend of mukbang has gained immense popularity worldwide, including in Arabic-speaking communities. Having a standardized scale to measure mukbang addiction will enable researchers and mental health professionals to understand the impact of this trend on individuals and communities better. Lastly, it is crucial to acknowledge that cultural and linguistic differences can impact how addiction is perceived and treated. The acceptance of mukbang among individuals of Arab cultures may be influenced by various social and cultural factors [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e]. Sharing meals is deeply ingrained in Arabian societies, and watching others eat large amounts of food can provide a sense of connection or enjoyment for those who may not have access to such feasts. Moreover, traditional beliefs that encourage overeating as a sign of prosperity and generosity may contribute to the acceptance of mukbang among Arab individuals [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e]. As Mukbang addiction potentially affects mental and physical health, understanding the prevalence and severity of mukbang addiction among Arab speaking people is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. Additionally, providing a valid measure of mukbang addiction for use among Arabs may enable investigating the psychological and social consequences of this addictive behavior, and shed light on its impact on mental health, eating habits, body image perception, academic performance, and overall well-being [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e]. With the scale available in Arabic, mental health professionals can comprehend the unique cultural and linguistic nuances of mukbang addiction in Arabic-speaking communities, providing tailored treatment accordingly. In addition, studying mukbang across different cultures is essential to understanding the impact of media globalization on behavior and the potential ramifications on viewers' mental well-being. For example, a cross-cultural study was done to analyze the antecedents of attitudes towards mukbang. This study found that mukbang shows are more likely to be watched by Asians because of the host's attractiveness and social normative impact; whereas Caucasians are more likely to watch these shows because they are perceived as novel [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e]. In this context, this study aimed to assess the validity and reliability of the Arabic version of the MAS in Arabic-speaking community adults from Saudi Arabia. It was hypothesized that (1) the Arabic version of MAS will replicate the one-factor structure proposed in the original version; and (2) the scale will show acceptable internal consistency, and invariance across sex groups; (3) MAS scores will correlate with measures of food addiction and psychological distress, supporting convergent validity.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"METHODS","content":"\u003cdiv id=\"Sec4\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eParticipants\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe present study employed an online questionnaire and convenient sampling technique to approach the participants. An online questionnaire was posted on social media sites, and adults willing to participate filled out the questionnaire. Arabic-speaking adults aged over 18 years were the target population for the study. A total of 370 adults with a mean age of 21.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.29 years participated.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec5\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eProcedures\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec6\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eEthical considerations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003e An ethical approval letter was issued by a Saudi university (RCI_REC/1. Mar.2023 /7.1.Exp.16) Google form consisted of consent sheet, demographic information, MAS, Yale food addiction scale and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-8) was prepared and shared on social media sites. Participation in the study was voluntarily, and young adults willing to participate filled out the questionnaire. The research team has continued to share the questionnaire on social media sites for a 6-month time period. The research data supporting the findings has been securely stored on the server of a Saudi university for the purpose of maintaining its integrity for a period of seven years following its publication.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec7\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eAdaptation and translation\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor this study, the MAS was translated using the 'forward-backward-forward' technique aligned with the Principles of Good Practice for Translation and Cultural Adaptation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e]. Initially, the questionnaire was translated into Arabic by a specialized translator, who then collaborated with two experts to review the translation. Subsequently, the translated version was converted back into English by another translator. Both experts and the researchers actively participated in the process of matching and evaluating the theoretical equivalence to establish the final version in Arabic (forward).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section3\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eMeasures\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec9\" class=\"Section4\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eThe modified version of Yale Food Addiction Scale\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe Arabic version of the scale was used to assess food addiction severity [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR24\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e24\u003c/span\u003e]. The scale has nine questions aligned with the seven DSM-IV-TR dependence criteria. Each question is scored on a Likert scale ranging from 0 (never) to 4 (four times a week to daily) (ω\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.89; α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.89).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec10\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eThe Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scales (DASS-8)\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe DASS-8 was used to evaluate psychological distress [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e]. It is comprised of eight items, rated from 0 (does not apply to me) to 3 (applies to me a lot or most of the times), divided into three subscales: depression, anxiety, and stress (ω\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.90; α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.90).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec11\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStatistical analysis\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe dataset did not contain any missing responses. In order to determine the factor structure of the MBS, we conducted a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) with the data collected from the total sample, using SPSS AMOS v.28 software. Considering a sample size of three to twenty times the number of variables in the scale, 120 participants were required [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e]. In this study, we intended to test the original scale model. The maximum likelihood method was used to estimate the parameters. Calculated fit indices were the normed model chi-square (χ\u0026sup2;/df), the Steiger-Lind root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA), the Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) and the comparative fit index (CFI). Values\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;5 for χ\u0026sup2;/df, and \u0026le;\u0026thinsp;.08 for RMSEA, and .95 for CFI and TLI indicate good fit of the model to the data [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e]. In order to verify convergent validity, the Average Variance Extraction (AVE) was calculated (values of 0.5 or more are considered adequate). At first, multivariate normality was not verified (Critical ratio\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;5; Bollen-Stine p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.002); therefore, nonparametric bootstrapping was performed. A value of greater than .70 indicates adequate composite reliability in both subsamples using McDonald's ω and Cronbach's alpha.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMulti-group CFA was conducted to examine sex invariance of MAS scores [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e] using the total sample. The measurement invariance was assessed at three levels: configural, metric, and scalar [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e]. We accepted ΔCFI\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;.010 and ΔRMSEA\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;.015 or ΔSRMR\u0026thinsp;\u0026le;\u0026thinsp;.010 as evidence of invariance [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe SPSS software v.25 was used for the remaining statistical analysis. The MBS score was considered normally distributed since the skewness and kurtosis varied between \u0026minus;\u0026thinsp;1.96 and +\u0026thinsp;1.96. The Student\u0026rsquo;s t test was used to compare two means, whereas the Pearson test was used to correlate two continuous variables. \u003cem\u003eP\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.05 was deemed statistically significant.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"RESULTS","content":"\u003cp\u003eParticipants\u0026rsquo; characteristics are displayed in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e. The majority of individuals were females (82.2%) and had a university educational level (88.4%).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCharacteristics of the sample (n\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;370)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"2\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSex\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e66 (17.8%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFemale\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e304 (82.2%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEducational level\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSecondary or less\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e43 (11.6%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUniversity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e327 (88.4%)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAge (years)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e21.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.29\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMukbang addiction\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.11\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;5.93\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFood addiction\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e12.20\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;7.91\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePsychological distress\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e11.48\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;6.21\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec13\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eConfirmatory Factor Analysis of the MBS scale\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eCFA indicated that fit of the one-factor model of MAS scores was poor: χ\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e/df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;173.46/9\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;19.27, RMSEA\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.223 (90% CI .194, .252), SRMR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.054, CFI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.908, TLI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.847. We added a correlation between residuals of items 1 and 2 since the modification index was high; the numbers improved as follows: χ\u003csup\u003e2\u003c/sup\u003e/df\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;32.49/8\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;4.06, RMSEA\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.091 (90% CI .060, .125), SRMR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.024, CFI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.986, TLI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.974. The standardized estimates of factor loadings were all adequate (see Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Internal reliability was excellent (ω\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.93; α\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.93). The AVE value was satisfactory\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.67.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec14\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eSex Invariance\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eIndices suggested that configural, metric, and scalar invariance was supported across sex (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e). No significant difference was found between males (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;11.56, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;6.83) and females (\u003cem\u003eM\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;11.01, \u003cem\u003eSD\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;5.72) in terms of Mukbang behaviors, \u003cem\u003et\u003c/em\u003e(368)\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.69, \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.492.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMeasurement Invariance across sex in the total sample.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"8\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eModel\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCFI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRMSEA\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSRMR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eModel Comparison\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eΔCFI\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eΔRMSEA\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eΔSRMR\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConfigural\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.972\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.096\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.020\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetric\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.969\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.087\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.022\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eConfigural vs metric\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.003\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.009\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.002\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eScalar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.959\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.091\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.023\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMetric vs scalar\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.010\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.004\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e.001\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"8\"\u003e\u003cem\u003eNote.\u003c/em\u003e CFI\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Comparative fit index; RMSEA\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Steiger-Lind root mean square error of approximation; SRMR\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;Standardized root mean square residual.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec15\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eConcurrent validity\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigher Mukbang addiction scores were significantly associated with more psychological distress (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.29; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001) and more food addiction (r\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.26; p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;.001).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the MAS in Arabic-speaking individuals residing in Saudi Arabia. As anticipated, the Arabic version of the MAS demonstrated strong internal consistency and convergent validity. It also revealed that the one-factor model proposed by the original developers of the questionnaire was fitting. The study supports the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the MAS.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsing the one-factor model proposed by the original questionnaire developers, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed to examine fit indices in the current study [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e]. According to the results, the one factor model fits the data well only after adding a correlation between residuals of items 1 and 2. The factor loadings were appropriate ranging from 0.78 to 0.52 [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e]. Furthermore, the reliability of the scale exhibited excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach alpha score of .93, mirroring the internal reliability of the original article, which stood at .95 [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e]. In addition, this study assessed the McDonald\u0026rsquo;s ω scores (ω\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.93) which was not assessed in the previous validation studies for this scale. These results demonstrate that the MAS has good internal consistency. The results also demonstrated sex invariance within the sample. This indicates that the scale exhibits equal applicability in Arabic-speaking men and women participants. In this study, there was no significant sex difference in mukbang behaviors. This contrasts with another study that indicates that men had lower MAS scores than women [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. However, it is important to note that this study utilized a heavy female sample, which may have impacted the results.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe final finding of the study provided support for concurrent validity, by establishing a correlation between mukbang addiction and some psychological problems, specifically, psychological distress and food addiction. This finding is congruent with a previous study that reported a link between problematic mukbang watching and psychological distress [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e]. There are several plausible explanations for this phenomenon. One possibility is that individuals may engage in mukbang viewing as a means of escaping from daily stressors [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR34\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e34\u003c/span\u003e]. In terms of food addiction, recent research has shed light on the association between mukbang addiction and various purging and binge eating behaviors, as well as disordered eating habits [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR15\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e15\u003c/span\u003e]. The research conducted in this field indicates that individuals who exhibit addictive behavior towards mukbang may utilize watching these videos as a strategy to prevent the occurrence of binge eating episodes. The reasoning behind this phenomenon could be that individuals experience a sense of \"having someone eat for them\" while viewing mukbang videos, which effectively decreases the likelihood of engaging in binge eating habits [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. This could suggest that individuals with a tendency to exhibit addictive behaviors towards food may exhibit a greater inclination towards watching mukbang. Additionally, it is plausible that the act of watching mukbang may exacerbate the underlying feelings of food addiction in these individuals. One noteworthy observation derived from a study analyzing comments posted beneath mukbang videos on YouTube was the high percentage of comments reflecting a history of binge eating [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e]. Furthermore, these comments frequently emphasized how viewing mukbang videos could set off a resurgence of uncontrollable eating episodes. These discoveries raise concerns about the possibility that mukbang may act as a trigger for individuals who have a history of binge eating. Overall, these findings merit heightened attention.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec17\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eStudy limitations\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis study showed encouraging results when evaluating the reliability and validity of the MAS in a sample of Arabic-speaking adults in Saudi Arabia. However, it is essential to acknowledge its limitations. Firstly, it is important to note that the sample was from a single Arab country, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to the rest of the country or the Arab world. Therefore, it is crucial to replicate this study in more representative samples from other Arabic-speaking countries or communities. Secondly, this research utilized a cross-sectional design, which precluded the examination of certain psychometric properties, such as test-retest reliability. Additionally, it is important to acknowledge that our sample was disproportionately composed of highly educated females, which may have affected the results obtained. Finally, the scale still needs to be validated in clinical samples (e.g., individuals with eating disorders).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Conclusion","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe Arabic MAS exhibited adequate psychometric properties, making it a potentially reliable instrument for assessing addictive mukbang watching. As the popularity of mukbang-watching increases worldwide, including in the Arab world, and as it has been linked to disordered eating habits and psychological issues, this scale can be employed by clinicians, mental health professionals, and researchers to gain a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. As a result, we hope that providing evidence for the validity and reliability of the Arabic MAS will foster its use in future research, to help implement evidence-informed treatment and support programs in Arab settings.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics Approval and Consent to Participate:\u003c/strong\u003e Ethical approval was granted by a Saudi based university (RCI_REC/21.Feb.2023/7.1.Exp.13) and the Saudi Ministry of Education (The Ethical approval letter 4401008619). A written informed consent was considered obtained from each participant when submitting the online form and from parents or the legal guardian(s) of the participants below 16 years of age involved in the study. All methods were performed in accordance with the relevant guidelines and regulations.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConsent for publication\u003c/strong\u003e: Not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAvailability of data and materials\u003c/strong\u003e: The datasets generated and/or analyzed during the current study are not publicly available but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompeting interests\u003c/strong\u003e: The authors have nothing to disclose.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e: None.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions\u003c/strong\u003e: NM, TR, FFR and SH designed the study; WS, NM and RA drafted the manuscript; SH carried out the analysis and interpreted the results; NM and TR collected the data; TR, SH and FFR reviewed the paper for intellectual content; all authors reviewed the final manuscript and gave their consent.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e: The authors would like to thank all participants.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChoe, H., \u003cem\u003eEating together multimodally: Collaborative eating in mukbang, a Korean livestream of eating.\u003c/em\u003e Language in Society, 2019. \u003cstrong\u003e48\u003c/strong\u003e(2): p. 171-208.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAnjani, L., et al. \u003cem\u003eWhy do people watch others eat food? An Empirical Study on the Motivations and Practices of Mukbang Viewers\u003c/em\u003e. in \u003cem\u003eProceedings of the 2020 CHI conference on human factors in computing systems\u003c/em\u003e. 2020.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eKang, E., et al., \u003cem\u003eThe popularity of eating broadcast: Content analysis of \u0026ldquo;mukbang\u0026rdquo; YouTube videos, media coverage, and the health impact of \u0026ldquo;mukbang\u0026rdquo; on public.\u003c/em\u003e Health informatics journal, 2020. \u003cstrong\u003e26\u003c/strong\u003e(3): p. 2237-2248.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRahat, M., et al., \u003cem\u003eProblematic video-streaming: A short review.\u003c/em\u003e Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 2022. \u003cstrong\u003e48\u003c/strong\u003e: p. 101232.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlmutairi, N., S. Burns, and L. 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Harding, \u003cem\u003eAdolescent obesity prevention in Saudi Arabia: co-identifying actionable priorities for interventions.\u003c/em\u003e Frontiers in Public Health, 2022. \u003cstrong\u003e10\u003c/strong\u003e: p. 863765.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003evon Ash, T., et al., \u003cem\u003eAssociations between mukbang viewing and disordered eating behaviors.\u003c/em\u003e International Journal of Eating Disorders, 2023.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStrand, M. and S.A. Gustafsson, \u003cem\u003eMukbang and disordered eating: A netnographic analysis of online eating broadcasts.\u003c/em\u003e Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 2020. \u003cstrong\u003e44\u003c/strong\u003e(4): p. 586-609.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZhang, W. and Y. 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Chung, \u003cem\u003eMŏkpang: Pay me and I\u0026rsquo;ll show you how much I can eat for your pleasure.\u003c/em\u003e Journal of Japanese and Korean Cinema, 2017. \u003cstrong\u003e9\u003c/strong\u003e(2): p. 155-171.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSanskriti, S., et al., \u003cem\u003eThe Spectrum of Motivations Behind Watching Mukbang Videos and Its Health Effects on Its Viewers: A Review.\u003c/em\u003e Cureus, 2023. \u003cstrong\u003e15\u003c/strong\u003e(8).\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-eating-disorders","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"joed","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of Eating Disorders](http://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com)","snPcode":"40337","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/40337/3","title":"Journal of Eating Disorders","twitterHandle":"@JEatDisord","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"MAS, Mukbang addiction, addictive Mukbang watching, Arabic, Psychometric properties","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3991776/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-3991776/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003ch2\u003eIntroduction:\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Arabic translation of the Mukbang Addiction Scale (MAS) among Arabic-speaking adults from the general population. Specifically, it aimed to assess the factorial structure through a confirmatory factor analysis, determine the composite reliability through Cronbach alpha and McDonald's omega scores, assess gender invariance, and evaluate the convergent validity by examining its correlation to eating addiction and psychological distress.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eMethods\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eA total of 370 individuals with a mean age of 21.94\u0026thinsp;\u0026plusmn;\u0026thinsp;2.29 years participated in this study, which was conducted using an online platform. The participants were surveyed on demographic information, mukbang addiction, food addiction, and psychological distress. Translation was conducted using the forward and backward technique.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eResults\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe findings demonstrated excellent internal consistency of the Arabic MAS (McDonald's omega coefficient\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;.93). Confirmatory factor analyses validated the one-factor structure of the scale, while establishing measurement invariance across sex at the configural, metric, and scalar levels. No sex differences were observed in the Mukbang addiction levels. Lastly, the MAS scores were significantly and positively correlated with food addiction and psychological distress, supporting their convergent validity.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eConclusion\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe current research provides evidence supporting the reliability and validity of the Arabic version of the MAS as a self-report method for assessing addictive Mukbang watching. While further validations are needed to corroborate the present findings, this measure can be effectively utilized across different fields, including schools, mental health centers, and researchers aiming to understand this global phenomenon.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Validation of the Arabic version of the Mukbang Addiction Scale","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-03-05 17:04:29","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-3991776/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"decision","content":"Revision requested","date":"2024-04-16T05:26:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2024-04-16T05:25:03+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"1f1ad69c-6f1e-49e8-8364-ef05eb9f5ff1","date":"2024-04-16T05:19:00+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2024-03-13T17:35:34+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"0706bc4d-adb0-4c66-9eb8-2f8983994b29","date":"2024-03-04T19:26:24+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2024-03-04T02:54:53+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-03-01T15:05:54+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-03-01T15:05:53+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Journal of Eating Disorders","date":"2024-02-26T19:18:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"journal-of-eating-disorders","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"joed","sideBox":"Learn more about [Journal of Eating Disorders](http://jeatdisord.biomedcentral.com)","snPcode":"40337","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/40337/3","title":"Journal of Eating Disorders","twitterHandle":"@JEatDisord","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"em","reportingPortfolio":"BMC/SO AJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"e006af4a-4651-48be-92b3-f1f6e1660d47","owner":[],"postedDate":"March 5th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-05-30T01:59:44+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-03-05 17:04:29","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-3991776","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-3991776","identity":"rs-3991776","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}