The Validation of the Persian Version of Sugar Addiction Questionnaire: Factor Structure, Item Analysis and Model Fit

Seyyed  Salman Alavi; Faezeh  Mokhtari; Zahra  Molavi; Somayeh Nasiri  Moghadam; Samira  Yaseri; Fereshteh  Jannatifard; Hamed  Alaghemandan; Fatemeh  Padrad; Fatemeh  Padrad; Ghazal  Panahi Saeb; Lili  Safdari; Mohammad Reza  Mohammadi

doi:10.18502/ijps.v20i2.18201

Seyyed Salman Alavi Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Faezeh Mokhtari Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Zahra Molavi Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.
Somayeh Nasiri Moghadam Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Samira Yaseri Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fereshteh Jannatifard Ministry of Education, Tehran, Iran.
Hamed Alaghemandan Department of Health Management in Disaster and Emergency, Engineering Research Institution of Natural Disaster Management, Shakhes Pajouh, Isfahan, Iran.
Fatemeh Padrad Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Fatemeh Padrad Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Ghazal Panahi Saeb Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Lili Safdari Department of Psychology, College of Humanities Sciences, West Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Mohammad Reza Mohammadi Psychiatry and Psychology Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijps.v20i2.18201

Keywords: Addictive; Behavioral Addiction; Psychometrics; Questionnaires; Sugars; Validation Study

Abstract

Objective: Excessive sugar consumption is a growing public health concern, with research suggesting it may function as an addictive substance. However, the lack of standardized tools to assess sugar addiction, particularly across cultures, remains a challenge. This study aims to validate the Persian version of the Sugar Addiction Questionnaire (SAQ) for use in Iran.

Method: In this cross-sectional psychometric validation study, 504 Persian-speaking adults (59.1% female, mean age = 29.8 ± 19.5 years) were recruited using convenience sampling from Tehran health centers. Participants completed the SAQ and Yale Food Addiction Scale (YFAS 2.0), and participated in DSM-5-based semi-structured interviews for sugar addiction. Factor analysis and reliability measures (Cronbach’s alpha, test-retest, split-half) were used to assess the SAQ's validity and reliability.

Results: The Persian SAQ demonstrated strong psychometric properties. Factor analysis revealed a five-factor structure explaining 45.08% of the variance. Concurrent validity was confirmed by significant correlations with the YFAS 2.0 (r = 0.51, P < 0.001) and BMI (r = 0.55, P < 0.001). The scale showed a good model fit (CFI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.08), with acceptable reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.79) and a test-retest correlation of 0.54. The optimal cutoff for diagnosing sugar addiction was 9, with the Area-Under-the-Curve (AUC) of 98%.

Conclusion: The Persian version of the SAQ is a reliable and valid tool for assessing sugar addiction in Iran. This validated instrument can improve the diagnosis and understanding of sugar-related behavioral issues, supporting better public health strategies for managing excessive sugar consumption.