Psychometric Testing of a Policy, Systems, and Environmental (PSE)-Focused SNAP-Ed Evaluation Tool.

OBJECTIVES: To validate the Healthy Youth Environment Survey, a pre-then-post survey completed by teachers to capture nutrition and physical activity-related changes in the classroom and school environment.

METHODS: Analysis included 679 pretest surveys. A factor analysis was conducted to establish construct validity and Cronbach α was established to assess internal consistency reliability.

RESULTS: The factor analysis extracted 10 main factors, with 97% of variables loading (≥ +0.30 factor loading) onto appropriate factors. After deleting one question, 6 of the 10 factors demonstrated acceptable internal reliability (Cronbach α ≥ 0.70).

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: After revision and subsequent retesting of construct validity, internal reliability, along with cognitive testing, The Healthy Youth Environment Survey may be suitable for use by other SNAP-Ed agencies implementing multi-level policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) interventions within youth education settings.