Validity, reliability and norm study of the eating disorder examination questionnaire in adults

The increase in the prevalence of eating disorders over the years increases the importance of accurate evaluation of this disease group. In the literature, it is seen that the measurement tools used for the evaluation of these disorders are very limited. The main aim of this study was to make reliability and validity of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) developed by Fairburn and Beglin (1994) in adults and to establish normative data for the Turkish population. In addition, the relationship between eating disorder symptoms and self-esteem and body image variables were investigated. Three hundred seventy female and 346 male, total 716 participants were included in the study. The demographic information form, Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire, Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory and Photographic Figure Rating Scale for Women were applied to the participants. While the Eating Disorder Rating Scale and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory were applied to all participants, Photographic Figure Rating Scale was applied to 199 participants due to difficulties in the practice.As a result of the study, unlike the original scale, a three-factor structure emerged. These factors are named as "Emotions and Thoughts about Body Shape and Weight", "Restricted Eating Motivation and Behavior" and "Loss of Functionality and Control". In the reliability study, the internal consistency cronbach alpha and test-retest coefficients of these factor dimensions were found as 0.92 and 0.78 for Emotions and Thoughts about Body Shape and Weight subscale, 0.85 and 0.61 for the Restricted Eating Motivation and Behavior subscale, and 0.75 and 0.66 for Loss of Functionality and Control subscale, respectively. The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire was found to be a valid and reliable scale applicable in the Turkish population. In addition, normative data were obtained in general population. Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire total and subscale scores and self-esteem and body image variables were found to be related.