Paul E Jenkins1, Emily Davey2,3. 1. School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK. 2. Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK. 3. Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Several recent studies have examined the psychometric properties of brief measures of eating disorder attitudes based on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). A seven-item version (the EDE-Q7) has been proposed but, as yet, has only been investigated by looking at the items when presented as part of the longer EDE-Q (i.e., as a nested version). The current study presented the EDE-Q7 as a standalone instrument and examined factor structure fit and measurement invariance across male and female genders. METHODS: University students (244 women; 155 men; 1 did not identify with either gender) completed questionnaires as part of two independent studies. All individuals completed the EDE-Q7 and measures of eating disorder behaviors. In a mixed-gender subsample (n = 286), measures of depression and eating disorder-specific quality of life were also included. Confirmatory factor analysis of the EDE-Q7 was conducted on males and females independently, in addition to estimates of internal consistency reliability and validity. Measurement invariance was assessed through multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: The EDE-Q7 demonstrated good internal consistency and findings supported measurement invariance by gender. In a mixed-gender subsample, the measure showed positive associations with depression and both eating disorder behaviors and eating disorder-specific quality of life. DISCUSSION: The present study adds to the literature supporting the psychometric properties of the EDE-Q7, extending this to use of the questionnaire as a standalone instrument. Measurement invariance suggests that the measure may be appropriate for college-age men and women, although future studies should establish psychometric properties more fully.
OBJECTIVE: Several recent studies have examined the psychometric properties of brief measures of eating disorder attitudes based on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). A seven-item version (the EDE-Q7) has been proposed but, as yet, has only been investigated by looking at the items when presented as part of the longer EDE-Q (i.e., as a nested version). The current study presented the EDE-Q7 as a standalone instrument and examined factor structure fit and measurement invariance across male and female genders. METHODS: University students (244 women; 155 men; 1 did not identify with either gender) completed questionnaires as part of two independent studies. All individuals completed the EDE-Q7 and measures of eating disorder behaviors. In a mixed-gender subsample (n = 286), measures of depression and eating disorder-specific quality of life were also included. Confirmatory factor analysis of the EDE-Q7 was conducted on males and females independently, in addition to estimates of internal consistency reliability and validity. Measurement invariance was assessed through multigroup confirmatory factor analysis. RESULTS: The EDE-Q7 demonstrated good internal consistency and findings supported measurement invariance by gender. In a mixed-gender subsample, the measure showed positive associations with depression and both eating disorder behaviors and eating disorder-specific quality of life. DISCUSSION: The present study adds to the literature supporting the psychometric properties of the EDE-Q7, extending this to use of the questionnaire as a standalone instrument. Measurement invariance suggests that the measure may be appropriate for college-age men and women, although future studies should establish psychometric properties more fully.
Authors: Kelsey N Serier; Kirsten P Peterson; Hayley VanderJagt; Riley M Sebastian; Chloe R Mullins; Jacqueline Medici; Jamie M Smith; Jane Ellen Smith Journal: Eat Weight Disord Date: 2021-12-01 Impact factor: 3.008