Script Author: Katja Borchert, Ph.D. (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Created: January 14, 2016
Last Modified: January 01, 2023 by K. Borchert (katjab@millisecond.com), Millisecond
Script Copyright © Millisecond Software, LLC
This script implements a computerized version of the Yale Food Addiction Scale. The Yale Food Addiction Scale was developed to identify people who exhibit dependence on high fat/high sugar foods.
Gearhardt, A.N., Corbin, W.R., & Brownell, K.D. (2009). Preliminary validation of the Yale Food Addiction Scale. Appetite, 52, 430-436.
Ashley N. Gearhardt, William R. Corbin, Kelly D. Brownell. (2012) . Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS). Measurement Instrument Database for the Social Science. Retrieved from www.midss.ie
Instrument Authors: Ashley N. Gearhardt, William R. Corbin, Kelly D. Brownell https://www.midss.org/content/yale-food-addiction-scale-yfas
4 minutes
A questionnaire with 25 questions with different response scales, self-report
25 questions
q1-q16, q25: 5 point Likert Questions
q17-q24: yes/no questions
SCORING (from scoring guidelines: https://www.midss.org/content/yale-food-addiction-scale-yfas):
The following cut-offs were developed for the continuous questions.
0 = criterion not met, 1 = criterion is met
The following questions are scored 0 = (0), 1 = (1): #19, #20, #21, #22
The following question is scored 0 = (1), 1 = (0): #24
The following questions are scored 0 = (0 thru 1), 1 = (2 thru 4): #8, #10, #11
The following questions are scored 0 = (0 thru 2), 1 = (3 & 4): #3, #5, #7, #9, #12, #13,
#14, #15, #16
The following questions are scored 0 = (0 thru 3), 1 = (4): #1, #2, #4, #6
The following questions are scored 0 = (0 thru 4), 1 = (5): #25
q17, q18, q23 are not scored - used as primers for other questions
NORMS (from scoring guidelines: https://www.midss.org/content/yale-food-addiction-scale-yfas):
Norms (undergraduates)
Diagnosis of Food Dependence – 11.6%
Median Symptom Count Score – 1.0
Withdrawal – 16.3%
Tolerance – 13.5%
Continued Use Despite Problems – 28.3%
Important Activities Given Up – 10.3%
Large Amounts of Time Spent – 24.0%
Loss of Control – 21.7%
Have Tried Unsuccessfully to Cut Down or Worried About Cutting Down – 71.3%
Clinically Significant Impairment - 14%
File Name: yalefoodaddictionscale_summary.iqdat' (Inquisit Lab: one data file per participant)
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| inquisit.version | Inquisit version number |
| computer.platform | Device platform: win | mac |ios | android |
| startDate | Date the session was run |
| startTime | Time the session was run |
| subjectId | Participant ID |
| groupId | Group number |
| sessionId | Session number |
| elapsedTime | Session duration in ms |
| completed | 0 = Test was not completed 1 = Test was completed |
| scales | 1 = criterion met 0 = criterion not met |
| amountsTaken | Substance taken in larger amount and for longer period than intended; Questions #1, #2, #3 |
| unsuccessfulQuits | Persistent desire or repeated unsuccessful attempts to quit; Questions #4, #22, # 24, #25 |
| timeSpentObtaining | Much time/activity to obtain, use, recover; Questions #5, #6, #7 |
| reducedActivities | Important social, occupational, or recreational activities given up or reduced; Questions #8, #9, #10, #11 |
| useDespiteKnowledge | Use continues despite knowledge of adverse consequences (e.g., failure to fulfill role obligation, use when physically hazardous); Question #19 |
| tolerance | Tolerance (marked increase in amount; marked decrease in effect); Questions #20, #21 |
| withdrawal | Characteristic withdrawal symptoms; substance taken to relieve withdrawal; Questions #12, #13, #14 |
| clinicalSignificance | Use causes clinically significant impairment or distress; Questions #15, #16 |
| symptomCountScore | Sum of the individual criterion scores (excluding clinical significance) = Symptom count without diagnosis (Range: 0-7) |
| diagnosisFoodDependence | 1 = diagnosis met (symptomcount > 3 AND clinical significance = 1) 0 = otherwise diagnosis not met |
| q1-q25 | Contain the scored responses for question 1-25 according to the scoring guidelines q17, q18, q23 are not scored - used as primers for other questions |
File Name: yalefoodaddictionscale.iqdat
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| date | Date the session was run |
| time | Time the session was run |
| subject, group, session | With the current subject/groupnumber/session id |
| build | Inquisit version number |
| q*_response | Response given (in assigned values) Scale q1-q16: 0 (never) - 4 (4 or more times) q17-q24: 0 (no); 1 (yes) q25: 0 (1 or fewer times) - 4 (5 or more times) No reversed scored questions |
| q*_latency | How much time (in ms) the participant spent on the surveyPage with this particular question (the last time this particular surveyPage was visited) |