Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q-13): Expanding on The Short Form

Abstract

Objective: The Eating Disorders Examination–Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is widely used but is time-consuming to complete. In recent years, the advantages and disadvantages of several brief versions have therefore been investigated. A seven-item scale (EDE-Q-7) has excellent psychometric properties but excludes items on bingeing and purging. This study aimed to evaluate a thirteen-item scale (EDE-Q-13) including items on bingeing and purging. Method: Participants were 1,160 (188; 11.4% males) community volunteers aged 28.79±9.92. They completed the full EDE-Q and measures of positive body experience, social and emotional connection, life satisfaction, positive and negative affect and positive eating. The six EDE-Q items about bingeing and purging, recoded to correspond to the response categories of the other EDE-Q questions, were added to the EDE-Q-7, resulting in the EDE-Q-13. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the hypothesized EDE-Q-13 structure, including the bingeing and purging subscales. Strong positive correlations were found between the EDE-Q-13 and the original EDE-Q scores. The EDE-Q-13 showed convergent validity with related measures. Conclusions: The EDE-Q-13 is a brief version of the EDE-Q that includes bingeing and purging subscales and has satisfactory psychometric properties. Its use in clinical and research contexts is encouraged.