Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Psychometric Validation of the Escala de Literacia da Alimentação e Nutrição (E-LAN), addressing the current lack of validated instruments for assessing food and nutrition literacy among portuguese youth. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional. METHODS: The study was conducted in a school setting in the western region of central Portugal between April 10 and 12, 2024, using a convenience sample of children aged 10-12 years. The E-LAN comprises 49 items (42 Likert-scale and 7 multiple-choice) across seven subscales assessing cognitive and skills domains. Reliability was examined using Cronbach's α, and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed to evaluate the internal structure, using χ(2)/df, AGFI, CFI, TLI, and RMSEA as fit indices. RESULTS: The initial scale showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.875). Four items were removed due to low item-total correlations and factor loadings. The revised 38-item version demonstrated improved reliability (Cronbach's α = 0.889), acceptable inter-item correlations, and good model fit (χ(2)/df = 1.45; AGFI = 0.91; CFI = 0.93; TLI = 0.91; RMSEA = 0.06). CONCLUSIONS: The E-LAN is a concise, reliable, and valid tool for assessing food and nutrition literacy among portuguese youth, supporting its use in public health research and interventions.