Imagine Chocolate: The Craving Experience Questionnaire in the Food Domain

Measurement and modification of food craving has gained relevance in the current obesity epidemic. The Craving Experience Questionnaire (CEQ) considers not only craving intensity but also cognitive intrusiveness and imagery vividness as craving facets and could thus add to the assessment of food craving. It is available in two versions with ten items each to assess craving frequency across time-periods (CEQ-F) and time-point specific craving strength (CEQ-S). In three studies, N = 533 participants completed the German chocolate CEQ-F referenced at the past year to operationalize trait-like craving. Among them, N = 402 also completed the German chocolate CEQ-S referenced at the current moment to operationalize state-like craving. Four-week test-retest reliability was measured. For external validation, we assessed self-reported chocolate consumption, body-mass-index, trait approach motivation, general imagery vividness, and the Food Cravings Questionnaires, widely used measures of trait (FCQ-T-r) and state chocolate craving (FCQ-S), as well as behavioural approach bias (reaction time-based measurement). The three-factor structure was replicated with excellent internal consistency for both CEQ-F and CEQ-S. Test-retest reliability was moderate for both CEQ versions. CEQ-F scores were related to higher levels of chocolate consumption, approach motivation, and FCQ-T-r scores, but not to body-mass-index, imagery vividness, and approach bias. CEQ-S scores were associated with FCQ-S scores and partly with approach bias, but not with approach motivation and imagery vividness. The current results support the factor structure, validity and reliability of the German chocolate CEQ-S and CEQ F with questions remaining regarding the ability of the CEQ-S to measure state craving. Both CEQ-F and CEQ-S can add value to the assessment of food craving as their subscales include aspects that are not well covered by the FCQs.