Researchers created and tested a new 25-question tool called the Spanish Cooking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SCSEQ) to measure how confident Spanish university students feel about cooking. According to Gram Research analysis, the questionnaire showed excellent reliability (0.91 on test-retest), meaning students gave consistent answers when tested twice. This tool could help universities identify which students need cooking support, since research shows confident cooks tend to eat healthier meals.
Researchers in Spain created a new questionnaire to measure how confident university students feel about cooking healthy meals. According to Gram Research analysis, this tool—called the Spanish Cooking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SCSEQ)—could help identify which students need support learning to cook. The study involved 73 Spanish university students and found that the questionnaire reliably measures cooking confidence across two main areas. This matters because students who feel more confident cooking tend to eat healthier foods, and many college students struggle with poor eating habits during this important life transition.
Key Statistics
A 2026 study of 73 Spanish university students found that the Spanish Cooking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SCSEQ) demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability with a correlation of 0.91, indicating the tool consistently measures cooking confidence over time.
The final version of the SCSEQ contains 25 items organized into two subscales with internal consistency scores of 0.88 and 0.82, both indicating strong reliability for measuring cooking self-efficacy in Spanish university students.
Expert review by 12 food and nutrition professionals led to improvements in the questionnaire, including removing four items, adding two new items, and rewriting nine items to enhance clarity and cultural relevance for Spanish students.
The Quick Take
- What they studied: Whether a new questionnaire could accurately measure how confident Spanish university students feel about cooking healthy meals
- Who participated: 73 Spanish university students from four universities in Catalonia, plus 12 food and nutrition experts who reviewed the questions
- Key finding: The final 25-question tool showed strong reliability (0.91 on a scale where 1.0 is perfect) and identified two main areas of cooking confidence that matter for students
- What it means for you: Universities could use this tool to identify students who need cooking classes or support, potentially helping them develop healthier eating habits during college years
The Research Details
Researchers started by reviewing existing cooking confidence questionnaires and created a new 32-question version tailored for Spanish university students. They asked 12 food and nutrition experts to review the questions for clarity and relevance, then made improvements based on feedback. Next, they tested the revised questionnaire with 73 Spanish university students to see if the questions actually measured what they were supposed to measure. The researchers used statistical methods called exploratory factor analysis to identify which questions worked best together and removed questions that didn’t fit well.
They also checked if students gave similar answers when taking the questionnaire twice, two weeks apart (called test-retest reliability). This is important because a good measurement tool should give consistent results. The final questionnaire contained 25 questions organized into two subscales, or groups, that measure different aspects of cooking confidence.
Having a reliable tool to measure cooking confidence is important because research shows that students who feel confident cooking tend to eat healthier. Many college students eat poorly during this transition to independence, so identifying which students lack cooking skills could help universities target support programs effectively. This questionnaire was specifically designed for Spanish university students in Mediterranean settings, making it more relevant than generic cooking tools.
The study showed strong internal consistency (0.88-0.82, where higher is better) and excellent test-retest reliability (0.91), meaning students gave similar answers when tested twice. The questionnaire was reviewed by nutrition experts for clarity. However, this was a preliminary validation study with a relatively small sample size (73 students), so larger studies are needed to confirm these results work across different Spanish universities and student populations.
What the Results Show
The final Spanish Cooking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SCSEQ) contains 25 questions organized into two subscales. The questionnaire showed high internal consistency, meaning the questions reliably measure cooking confidence. When students took the questionnaire two weeks apart, their scores were very similar (correlation of 0.91), indicating the tool gives consistent results over time.
The two subscales appear to measure different aspects of cooking confidence. The exploratory factor analysis identified which questions worked best together and helped researchers remove three questions that didn’t fit the pattern well. The overall questionnaire demonstrated favorable psychometric properties, meaning it’s a reliable and valid tool for measuring cooking confidence in Spanish university students.
The expert review process was valuable—nutrition experts suggested removing four items, adding two new items, and rewriting nine items to improve clarity and relevance for Spanish students. This feedback ensured the final questionnaire was culturally appropriate and easy to understand. The two-factor structure suggests that cooking confidence involves multiple related but distinct skills or beliefs.
While other cooking self-efficacy questionnaires exist, this is the first validated tool specifically designed for Spanish university students in Mediterranean settings. Previous instruments were either developed in other countries or not tailored to the university population, which has unique eating challenges and food environments.
The study involved only 73 students from four Catalan universities, so results may not represent all Spanish university students. The sample was relatively small for statistical validation, and all participants were from the same region. Future research should test the questionnaire with larger, more diverse samples across Spain. The study didn’t examine whether cooking confidence measured by this tool actually predicts healthier eating habits, which would strengthen its practical value.
The Bottom Line
Universities should consider using the SCSEQ to identify students with low cooking confidence who might benefit from cooking classes or nutrition education programs. This tool could be administered during orientation or health screenings. The evidence is strong (high reliability scores) for using this questionnaire in Spanish university settings, though larger studies would increase confidence in the results.
Spanish university administrators, nutrition educators, and student health programs should care about this tool. Students who struggle with meal preparation or want to improve their cooking skills might find it useful for self-assessment. This tool is specifically designed for Spanish university students and may not apply to other populations without further validation.
Using this questionnaire to identify students needing support could lead to behavior changes within weeks to months if combined with cooking classes or nutrition counseling. However, this study only measured the reliability of the tool itself, not how long it takes to see improvements in actual cooking skills or eating habits.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you measure cooking confidence in college students?
Researchers developed the SCSEQ, a 25-question questionnaire specifically for Spanish university students. It measures two aspects of cooking confidence and showed excellent reliability (0.91) when students retook it after two weeks, making it a trustworthy measurement tool.
Why is cooking confidence important for college students?
Research shows students who feel confident cooking tend to eat healthier meals. Many college students eat poorly during the transition to independence, so measuring cooking confidence helps identify who needs cooking education or support programs.
Is there a cooking confidence test for Spanish students?
Yes, the newly developed Spanish Cooking Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SCSEQ) is the first validated tool specifically designed for Spanish university students. It was tested with 73 students and showed strong reliability across two subscales measuring different cooking skills.
What makes a good cooking confidence questionnaire?
A good questionnaire should give consistent results when people take it multiple times (the SCSEQ achieved 0.91 reliability) and should be reviewed by experts for clarity. The SCSEQ was refined by 12 nutrition professionals to ensure questions were clear and relevant for Spanish students.
Can this cooking questionnaire predict healthier eating?
This study validated that the SCSEQ reliably measures cooking confidence, but didn’t test whether it predicts actual eating behavior. Future research should examine whether students with higher scores on this questionnaire actually eat healthier meals.
Want to Apply This Research?
- Users could take the 25-question SCSEQ monthly to track changes in cooking confidence over time, with specific focus on the two subscales to identify which cooking skills are improving
- After completing the questionnaire, users could set specific cooking goals based on their lowest-scoring areas—for example, if confidence in meal planning is low, commit to planning one week of meals ahead
- Track cooking attempts weekly (number of home-cooked meals prepared) alongside quarterly SCSEQ assessments to correlate growing confidence with actual cooking behavior
This research describes the development and testing of a measurement tool for cooking confidence in Spanish university students. The study validated that the questionnaire is reliable, but did not test whether cooking confidence directly improves eating habits or health outcomes. Individuals should consult with healthcare providers or registered dietitians for personalized nutrition advice. This tool is designed for research and educational purposes and should not replace professional nutrition counseling.
This research translation is published by Gram Research, the science division of Gram, an AI-powered nutrition tracking app.