Validation and Polish Adaptation of the Authorized Bratman Orthorexia Self-Test (ABOST): Comparison of Dichotomous and Continuous Likert-Type Response Scales

Abstract

Purpose Although research on orthorexia nervosa (ON) has developed in recent years, there exists a continuous need to develop valid tools to assess ON risk, according to strict diagnostic criteria. The present study aims to conduct Polish adaptation and validation of the Authorized Bratman Orthorexia Self-Test (ABOST), through a comparison of dichotomous and continuous Likert response scales. Participants and Methods This cross-sectional study involved 472 people with mean age of 27 years (ranging between 18 and 78 years, M = 26.88, SD = 10.40). The survey included demographic questions and measures of orthorexia (the ABOST and ORTO-15), eating disorders (EAT-26), body mass index (BMI), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCI-R), anxiety (GAD-7), and depression (PHQ-9). The following statistical tests were performed to explore the psychometric properties of the ABOST: descriptive statistics, Student’s t -test, Pearson’s correlation, Cronbach’s α reliability, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Results The ABOST using a five-point Likert scale for responses demonstrated good psychometric properties. The CFA goodness-of-fit indices confirmed the one-factor solution. Positive correlations were found between the ABOST and the ORTO-15, EAT-26, OCI-R, GAD-7, and PHQ-9. Women scored higher in the ABOST than men, while BMI was unrelated to the ABOST. Conclusion The ABOST using the Likert scale provides a reliable and valid instrument to assess ON risk, as indicated by the face, structural, and convergent validity results. However, more research in various countries is needed, in order to verify the results of this study.

The Mediating Role of Orthorexia in the Relationship between Physical Activity and Fear of COVID-19 among University Students in Poland

“…In particular, ON is positively related to eating disorders (EDs), obsessive-compulsive traits, stress, anxiety, and depressive symptoms, and negatively associated with psychological wellbeing and life satisfaction [40,52,53]. Recent studies also found correlations between ON and EDs, healthy behaviors, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and depression [47,54].…”

A systematic review and meta‐analysis of the relationship between obsessive‐compulsive symptoms and symptoms of proposed orthorexia nervosa: The contribution of assessments

“…Finally, Rogowska et al. (2021b) converted the dichotomous BOT to a five‐point Likert‐type scale, creating the ABOST‐2, finding a strong and statistically significant relationship between ON and OC symptoms across all subscales of the OCI‐R.…”

“…In contrast, six studies utilised the newer generation of ON assessments including the TOS, ONI and TON, and consistently reported significant, moderate to strong ON/OC relationships (e.g., Oberle et al., 2021). Notably, the ABOST‐2 (Rogowska et al., 2021b), a likert‐type version of the original BOT, only moderately correlated with the ORTO‐15 ( r = 0.30, p < 0.001), indicating that potentially the two assessments, although based on the same original criteria, may capture different constructs. Many of the newer assessments reflect Dunn and Bratman's (2016) refinement of diagnostic criteria for ON and updated phenomenological understanding, improving the ability to detect OC symptoms in ON.…”

“…Thirty-three (82.5%) studies found at least one significant relationship between ON and OC symptoms. Two studies, Oberle et al (2021) and Yazkan and Uğurlu (2022), found a large correlation between ON and OC symptoms (r = 0.53, p < 0.001 and r = 0.74, p = 0.024 respectively) and 14 studies found moderate correlations (Albery et al, 2022;Barrada & Roncero, 2018;Bóna et al, 2019;Chace & Kluck, 2021;Çiçekoğlu & Tunçay, 2018;Koven & Senbonmatsu, 2013;Mitrofanova et al, 2021;Moller et al, 2019;Poyraz et al, 2015;Rogowska et al, 2021aRogowska et al, , 2021bZhou et al, 2020). Seventeen studies found at least one small but significant ON/OC relationship (Arusoğlu et al, 2008;Brytek-Matera et al, 2017, 2020Bundros et al, 2016;Cerolini et al, 2021;Costa & Hardan-Khalil, 2019;Demir & Bayram, 2022;Hallit et al, 2022;Hayes et al, 2017;Levin et al, 2023;Novara et al, 2022;Souza et al, 2022;Strahler et al, 2018;Yakin et al, 2021aYakin et al, , 2021bZickgraf et al, 2019), and seven found no significant ON/OC relationship (Ambwani et al, 2019;Andreas et al, 2018;Asil & Sürücüoğlu, 2015;Dabal, 2020;Vaccari et al, 2021;Yilmaz et al, 2020).…”

“…Twenty-eight studies used the obsessive-compulsive inventory-revised (OCI-R; Foa et al, 2002) to measure OC symptoms with all but six studies (Ambwani et al, 2019;Barrada & Roncero, 2018;Dabal, 2020;Vaccari et al, 2021) reporting significant ON/OC relationships. Eleven studies reported moderate relationships (Albery et al, 2022;Barrada & Roncero, 2018;Chace & Kluck, 2021;Koven & Senbonmatsu, 2013;Mitrofanova et al, 2021;Moller et al, 2019;Rogowska et al, 2021aRogowska et al, , 2021bZhou et al, 2020), 12 reported a small relationship (Brytek-Matera et al, 2020Bundros et al, 2016;Cerolini et al, 2021;Costa & Hardan-Khalil, 2019;Hayes et al, 2017;Levin et al, 2023;Novara et al, 2022;Yakin et al, 2021aYakin et al, , 2021bZickgraf et al, 2019). One study used a shortened version of the OCI-R, the OCI-12 (Abramovitch et al, 2021), finding a small significant relationship (Hallit et al, 2022).…”