Abstract/Summary

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 behaviours. 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 behaviours 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.