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Validation of the 12-item Short Form of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire in the Chinese context: confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis

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Abstract

Purpose

As a 12-item Short Form of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-QS), the EDE-QS was developed based on Rasch modeling to address certain weaknesses of the EDE-Q, and it has been demonstrated to be a psychometrically sound measure. Thus, the current study aimed to obtain a Chinese version of the EDE-QS and validate its psychometric properties in the Chinese context.

Methods

According to standard procedures, the Chinese version of the EDE-QS (C-EDE-QS) was obtained. A total of 1068 Chinese college students finished the survey. The psychometric properties of the C-EDE-QS were examined under the frameworks of both classic test theory and Rasch modeling.

Results

The one-factor structure of the C-EDE-QS was confirmed in confirmatory factor analysis; the C-EDE-QS showed good reliability with a Cronbach’s α of 0.89; and the total scores of the C-EDE-QS were significantly correlated with eating disturbances and psychological distress in expected magnitudes and directions. Rasch analysis supported the unidimensional construct of the C-EDE-QS and the four-point rating scale structure. However, results revealed differential item functioning (DIF) across gender groups.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that the C-EDE-QS could be a useful tool to assess key attitudes and behavioral features of eating disorder psychopathologies in the Chinese context.

Level of evidence

V, descriptive (cross-sectional) study.

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Acknowledgements

This research was partially supported by the Presidential Fund (PF.01.000670) of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, to Xitao Fan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

    Jinbo He & Xitao Fan

  2. School of Journalism, Fudan University, Guoding Road 400, Shanghai, 200433, China

    Shaojing Sun

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Correspondence to Shaojing Sun.

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Ethical approval was obtained from the Hunan University (the first author’s previous affiliation). All procedures performed in this study involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki Declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

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Appendix

Appendix

进食障碍检查问卷-12简版中文版 (C-EDE-QS)

在过去一周(7天)里,有多少天……

0天

1–2天

3–5天

6–7天

1. 你曾为了改变体重或体形而试图刻意限制自己的进食量吗?(无论你是否已经成功)

0

1

2

3

2. 你曾为了改变体重或体形在很长一段时间内(清醒状态下8小时或更长)不进食吗?

0

1

2

3

3. 你曾因思考食物、进食或卡路里而难以将注意力集中于自己感兴趣的事情上(例如工作、交谈、或者读书)吗?

0

1

2

3

4. 你曾因思考体重或体形而难以将注意力集中于自己感兴趣的事情上(例如工作、交谈或者读书)吗?

0

1

2

3

5. 你曾明确地惧怕自己可能会变胖吗?

0

1

2

3

6. 你曾对减肥有强烈的渴望吗?

0

1

2

3

7. 你曾试图让自己呕吐或服用泻药来控制自己的体重或体形吗?

0

1

2

3

8. 你曾以“驱使”或“强迫”自己运动的方式来控制自己的体重、体形、体脂含量或燃烧卡路里吗?

0

1

2

3

9. 当你在进食的时候,你曾产生对进食失去控制的感觉吗?

0

1

2

3

10.在你对进食失去控制的时间里,其中有多少天你一次性吃了他人会认为量特别大的食物?

0

1

2

3

在过去一周(7天)里,

没有

轻度

中度

重度

11. 你的体重或体形影响了你对自己作为一个人的想法或评价吗?

0

1

2

3

12. 你对自己的体重或体形有多不满意?

0

1

2

3

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He, J., Sun, S. & Fan, X. Validation of the 12-item Short Form of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire in the Chinese context: confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis. Eat Weight Disord 26, 201–209 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40519-019-00840-3

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