Factor structure and construct validity of the eating disorder examination‐questionnaire in college students: Further support for a modified brief version

Abstract

Objective The Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is widely used in research studies across clinical and non-clinical groups. Relatively little is known about psychometric properties of this measure and the available literature has not supported the proposed scale structure. The current study evaluated the factor structure and construct validity of the EDE-Q in a non-clinical study group of young adults. Method Participants were 801 young adults (573 females, 228 males) enrolled at a large public university in the Midwestern United States who completed the EDE-Q and a battery of behavioral and psychological measures. Results Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) revealed an inadequate fit for the original EDE-Q structure but revealed a good fit for an alternative structure suggested by recent research with predominately overweight/obese samples. CFA supported a modified 7-item, 3-factor structure; the three factors were interpreted as dietary restraint, shape/weight overvaluation, and body dissatisfaction. Factor loadings and item intercepts were invariant across sex and overweight status. The three factors had less redundancy than the original EDE-Q scales and demonstrated improved convergent and discriminant validity in relation to relevant other measures. Discussion These factor-analytic findings, which replicate findings from studies with diverse predominately overweight/obese samples, supported a modified 7-item, 3-factor structure for the EDE-Q with improved psychometric characteristics. The findings provide further empirical support for the distinction between body dissatisfaction and overvaluation and have implications for assessment and research. These findings need to be replicated in samples of persons with eating-disorder psychopathology including those with anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and allied states.

Fathers and mothers with eating-disorder psychopathology: Associations with child eating-disorder behaviors

“…Items are scored on seven-point scales. Subscales (Restraint, Overvaluation, Dissatisfaction) were internally consistent in earlier work, α=.89–.91 (45), and in the current study α=.89–.92. Additionally, EDE-Q items about ED behaviors were adapted for parent report.…”

“…The EDE-Q retrospectively measures ED psychopathology over the past 28 days (44); we used a brief seven-item version of the full scale that demonstrates psychometric properties in nonclinical (45) and clinical (46) studies that are superior to those from the original measure. Items are scored on seven-point scales.…”

Psychometric properties of the eating disorder examination-questionnaire in Japanese adolescents

“…However, after the partial correlation analysis, the significant correlations with “Fear of Obesity” disappeared after controlling for “Self-Esteem Based on Shape and Weight”, whereas “Self-Esteem Based on Shape and Weight” remained significant even after controlling for “Fear of Obesity.” This result demonstrated that “Self-Esteem Based on Shape and Weight” is a factor conceptually distinct from “simple” body dissatisfaction such as that assessed via “Fear of Obesity”. These findings are confirmed by the studies of Hrabosky et al [22], Peterson et al [13], and Grilo et al [34], which emphasized the importance of the distinction between body image dissatisfaction and overvaluation of shape and weight with regard to the factor structure of the EDE-Q.…”

“…Hrabosky et al [22], Peterson et al [13], and Grilo et al [34] emphasized the importance of the distinction between “body image dissatisfaction” and “overvaluation of shape and weight” with regard to the factor structure of the EDE-Q. Hrabosky et al suggested that “overvaluation of shape and weight” appears to be a construct related to, but distinct from, “body image dissatisfaction.” In these studies, “overvaluation of shape and weight” is considered more pathological than “body image dissatisfaction,” and it therefore differentiates patients with eating disorders from normal controls [22].…”

Form and formulation: Examining the distinctiveness of body image constructs in treatment-seeking patients with binge-eating disorder.

“…Factor-analytic studies have demonstrated this distinction in BED (Grilo, Crosby, et al, 2010; Grilo, Crosby, & White, 2012), obesity (Grilo, Henderson, Bell, & Crosby, 2013; Hrabosky et al, 2008), and non-clinical (Grilo, Reas, Hopwood, & Crosby, 2015) samples. Previous research has documented an association of overvaluation with eating-disorder psychopathology severity and with self-esteem (Grilo, 2013).…”