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Validation of the Nine Item Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder Screen (NIAS) in a Flemish Sample of Community Adults

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Background/Objectives: Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) is characterized by restricted food intake with significant physical and/or psychosocial consequences. ARFID comprises three subtypes: sensory-based food avoidance, lack of interest in eating, and fear of aversive consequences of eating. The Nine Item ARFID Screen (NIAS) was developed to assess these three ARFID subtypes. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Dutch NIAS in a Flemish adult sample. Methods: A community sample of 424 adults (18–65 years) completed the Dutch NIAS and self-report measures assessing eating disorder symptoms, psychological symptoms, and identity functioning. The factor structure, internal consistency, and measurement invariance of the NIAS scales were examined, as were the associations between the NIAS scales and psychological symptoms. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis supported the three-factor structure of the Dutch NIAS. The three subscales showed good internal consistency (all α/ω ≥ 0.82). Partial scalar invariance across BMI categories was supported after freeing Item 7, whereas scalar invariance across gender and age groups was not established. NIAS subscale scores were significantly positively related to eating disorder symptomatology, anxiety, depression, somatic symptoms, and identity diffusion, and they were negatively associated with BMI, identity synthesis, and self-esteem. Conclusions: The Dutch NIAS demonstrates good reliability and factorial validity for assessing ARFID-related symptoms in the younger adult subgroup (<40 years) across gender and weight categories. However, the observed differences in measurement invariance, particularly across age groups, warrant further investigation in larger and more diverse samples.

Source: Nutrients

DOI: 10.3390/nu18213498

Authors: Laurence Claes, Dirk Smits, Lore Vankerckhoven, Glenn Kiekens, Koen Luyckx

Institutions: University of Antwerp, KU Leuven, Odisee, University of Applied Sciences, Tilburg University, University of the Free State

Language: English

Topic: Eating Disorders and Behaviors

Subfield: Clinical Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,499