Rasmus Isomaa1,2, Ida-Lina Lukkarila1,3, Teresa Ollila3, Helena Nenonen4, Pia Charpentier4, Sanna Sinikallio5, Leila Karhunen3. 1. a Department of Social Services and Health Care , Jakobstad , Finland ; 2. b Faculty of Education and Welfare Studies , Åbo Akademi University , Vaasa , Finland ; 3. c Department of Clinical Nutrition , University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland ; 4. d Center for Eating Disorders , Helsinki , Finland ; 5. e School of Educational Sciences and Psychology , University of Eastern Finland , Joensuu , Finland.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Eating behaviour can be viewed as a continuum, ranging from extremely restrictive to extremely disinhibited eating. Valid and reliable instruments are needed to ensure detection of individuals with risk for eating disorders (ED). Self-report methods are the most feasible, cost, and time efficient. One of the most widely used self-reports is the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). AIM: The aim of this study was to develop a Finnish version of the EDE-Q version 6.0 and to assess its psychometric properties in adolescents, adults, and ED patients. METHODS: The present study utilized data from three different samples: adolescents (n = 242), adults (n = 133), and ED patients (n = 52). The patient group comprised different EDs, but individual ED diagnoses were not studied separately. Data was collected January 2014 through June 2015. RESULTS: The Finnish version of the EDE-Q showed acceptable-to-excellent internal consistency on all sub-scales in all three samples and discriminated patients from healthy individuals. Female participants generally scored higher than male and sex differences were more pronounced among the younger age group. CONCLUSIONS: The Finnish version of the EDE-Q can, based on this study, be regarded as reliable, valid, and functional. Further studies are needed to evaluate the population norms and to test the validity in individual ED diagnoses.
BACKGROUND: Eating behaviour can be viewed as a continuum, ranging from extremely restrictive to extremely disinhibited eating. Valid and reliable instruments are needed to ensure detection of individuals with risk for eating disorders (ED). Self-report methods are the most feasible, cost, and time efficient. One of the most widely used self-reports is the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). AIM: The aim of this study was to develop a Finnish version of the EDE-Q version 6.0 and to assess its psychometric properties in adolescents, adults, and ED patients. METHODS: The present study utilized data from three different samples: adolescents (n = 242), adults (n = 133), and ED patients (n = 52). The patient group comprised different EDs, but individual ED diagnoses were not studied separately. Data was collected January 2014 through June 2015. RESULTS: The Finnish version of the EDE-Q showed acceptable-to-excellent internal consistency on all sub-scales in all three samples and discriminated patients from healthy individuals. Female participants generally scored higher than male and sex differences were more pronounced among the younger age group. CONCLUSIONS: The Finnish version of the EDE-Q can, based on this study, be regarded as reliable, valid, and functional. Further studies are needed to evaluate the population norms and to test the validity in individual ED diagnoses.