Dutch Eating Behaviour Questionnaire-Restraint Scale (DEBQ-RS)

Abstract

The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire-Restraint Scale (DEBQ-RS) is a critical subscale of the comprehensive Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ), initially developed by T. van Strien and colleagues in 1986. Its central function is the quantitative assessment of cognitive restraint, which refers to the conscious, intentional effort an individual makes to limit food intake, typically reflecting chronic dieting behavior. The scale provides crucial insights for researchers and clinicians studying the cognitive dimension of eating habits, particularly concerning obesity and Eating Disorders. The original DEBQ-RS is a 10-item instrument scored on a 5-point frequency scale, widely utilized in psychological and nutritional research to distinguish individuals who actively restrict calories from those whose eating is driven more by emotional states or external cues.

Keywords

Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire, DEBQ, Cognitive Restraint, Restrained Eating, Dieting Behavior, Psychological Assessment, Eating Behavior, Obesity.

Authors

T. van Strien, J.E. Frijters, G.P. Bergers, P.B. Defares.

Purpose

The primary objective of the DEBQ-RS is to quantify the degree to which an individual intends to restrict food intake, regardless of their actual current body weight or caloric consumption. It specifically targets the cognitive planning and intentions underlying dieting behavior. This measurement is fundamental for identifying individuals susceptible to disinhibited eating patterns—a phenomenon where strict attempts at dieting often precede periods of compensatory overeating, particularly when triggered by stress or emotional distress.

Furthermore, the scale facilitates detailed academic inquiry into the relationship between high levels of Restrained Eating and associated psychological outcomes, such as mood disturbances, body dissatisfaction, and specific weight loss strategies. The design of the scale ensures that the measurement of restraint is isolated from the other two dimensions of the DEBQ: emotional eating and external eating cues.

Construct

The DEBQ-RS operationalizes cognitive restraint, which is defined as the deliberate, conscious motivation to regulate food consumption to manage or reduce body weight. This construct focuses on the underlying mental processes—the planning, monitoring, and rule-setting—rather than the observed caloric intake itself. Elevated scores on the DEBQ-RS signify a chronic preoccupation with controlling food intake, often manifesting as rigid dietary rules or compensatory actions, such as reducing intake the day after perceived overconsumption.

As a subscale of the multidimensional DEBQ, the Restraint scale specifically captures the dieting and weight control dimension, standing alongside Emotional Eating and External Eating. Its measurement is a cornerstone of the Psychometrics applied to eating pathology research.

Validity

The DEBQ-RS has consistently demonstrated robust psychometric properties across diverse research cohorts globally. Construct validity is evidenced by the scale’s ability to accurately differentiate individuals based on their self-reported dieting status and history of weight fluctuation. High Restraint scores typically exhibit strong positive correlations with objective measures of dieting frequency, weight cycling, and acute concern regarding Body Image.

Crucially, the scale exhibits strong discriminant validity, confirmed by low correlations between the Restraint subscale and the DEBQ’s other factors (Emotional and External Eating), confirming that these constructs measure independent aspects of eating behavior. Furthermore, its predictive utility is supported by studies showing that DEBQ-RS scores reliably forecast individual responses to experimental environmental factors, such as food availability or stress induction, reinforcing its role in measuring cognitive control over consumption.

Reliability

The internal consistency of the DEBQ-RS is consistently reported as high across numerous academic studies. Typical Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the Restraint subscale frequently fall within the range of 0.85 to 0.95, indicating excellent reliability and cohesion among the 10 items. This level of internal consistency suggests the items effectively measure the same underlying construct.

Furthermore, satisfactory test-retest reliability has been established, confirming that the measurement of cognitive restraint is stable across time. This stability suggests that the DEBQ-RS assesses a persistent characteristic eating style or a stable personality trait related to dieting, rather than a transient state.

Factor Analysis

Comprehensive Factor Analysis performed on the complete DEBQ instrument robustly supports a three-factor model, clearly delineating Restrained, Emotional, and External Eating behaviors. The items specific to the DEBQ-RS consistently load heavily and coherently onto the designated Restraint factor, confirming its effectiveness as a unidimensional measure of cognitive restriction.

While minor cross-loadings have been occasionally noted in specialized samples, the Restraint scale is broadly accepted within the research community as a reliable and coherent factor that successfully isolates the intended construct of dieting intention, distinct from other motivational drivers of eating behavior.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire, Psychological assessment scale

Format: Multiple-choice frequency or agreement ratings on a 5-point Likert scale

Language Available: Dutch (Original), English, German, Spanish, and numerous other translations

Population Group: General population, clinical samples (e.g., individuals with Eating Disorders or obesity), and college students

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically 16+)

Population Details: The scale is widely used globally, making it suitable for cross-cultural studies of eating behavior and dieting practices across diverse demographic groups.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the frequency or intensity of specific thoughts and behaviors related to dieting and conscious food restriction. Scores are typically summed and averaged to provide a total Restraint score, which indicates the level of cognitive control exerted over eating.

Keywords

Cognitive control, Eating behavior assessment, Body weight concern, Body Image, Dieting strategies, Psychometrics, Validity, Factor Analysis, Self-report measure.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not consistently available for all original authors (1986).

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not provided in the original source material.

Correspondence Address: Information not provided in the original source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The DEBQ, including the Restraint subscale, was initially published in 1986 (van Strien et al., 1986). While the scale is frequently employed in non-commercial academic research, users seeking commercial or clinical application must secure explicit permissions from the primary authors or copyright holders. Generally, the instrument is accessible for research purposes without direct fees, but researchers must always verify current licensing terms.

A notable adaptation of the scale was featured in the 2007 dissertation by Sylvia Herbozo, titled “The Effects of Ambiguous Appearance-related Feedback on Body Image, Mood States, and Intentions to Use Body Changes Strategies in College Women.” The original PDF of that dissertation, which contains the scale items on pages 122-123, can be downloaded here: http://usf.sobek.ufl.edu/content/SF/S0/02/68/04/00001/E14-SFE0002487.pdf.

Reference’s

• van Strien, T., Frijters, J.E., Bergers, G.P., & Defares, P.B. (1986). The Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ) for assessment of restrained, emotional, and external eating behavior. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 5(2), 295-315.
• Herbozo, Sylvia. (2007). The Effects of Ambiguous Appearance-related Feedback on Body Image, Mood States, and Intentions to Use Body Changes Strategies in College Women. University of South Florida, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology.

Items of the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire-Restraint Scale (DEBQ-RS)

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Original Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire-Restraint Scale (10-item version)

1. Did you eat less than you normally would to lose weight?
2. Did you try to eat less at meal times than you would like to eat?
3. How often did you refuse food or drink because you were concerned about your weight?
4. Did you watch exactly what you ate?
5. Did you deliberately eat foods that were slimming?
6. If you ate too much, did you eat less than usual the next day?
7. Did you deliberately eat less in order not to become heavier?
8. How often did you try not to eat between meals because you were watching your weight?
9. How often in the evenings did you try not to eat because you were watching your weight?
10. Did you take into account your weight in deciding what to eat?

Scoring for Original DEBQ-RS: 1=Never, 2=Seldom, 3=Sometimes, 4=Often, 5=Always

Modified Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire-Restraint Scale (7-item version)

1. Do you plan to eat less than you normally would to lose weight?
2. Do you plan to eat less at mealtimes than you would like to eat?
3. Do you plan to refuse food or drink to lose weight?
4. Do you plan to watch exactly what you eat?
5. Do you plan to deliberately eat foods that are slimming?
6. If you overeat one day, do you plan to eat less than usual the next day?
7. Do you plan to deliberately eat less in order to not become heavier?

Scoring for Modified DEBQ-RS: 1=Strongly Disagree, 2=Somewhat Disagree, 3= Neither Agree Nor Disagree, 4=Somewhat Agree, 4=Strongly Agree