Confirmatory factor analysis and examination of the psychometric properties of the eating beliefs questionnaire

Abstract

BackgroundThe Eating Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ) is a 27-item self-report measure that assesses positive and negative beliefs about binge eating. It has been validated and its factor structure explored in a non-clinical sample. This study tested the psychometric properties of the EBQ in a clinical and a non-clinical sample.MethodA sample of 769 participants (573 participants recruited from the university and general community, 76 seeking treatment for an eating disorder and 120 participating in obesity research) completed a battery of questionnaires. A subset of clinical participants with a diagnosis of Bulimia Nervosa or Binge Eating Disorder completed the test-battery before and after receiving a psychological treatment (n = 27) or after allocation to a wait-list period (n = 28), and a subset of 35 community participants completed the test battery again after an interval of two-weeks. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was performed.ResultsCFA found a two-factor structure that provided a good fit to the data, supporting the solution presented in the development paper. Items with poor psychometric properties were removed, resulting in a 16 item measure. EBQ scores were found to correlate with binge eating episode frequency, increases in body mass index (BMI), and measures of eating disorder behaviours and related psychopathology. The EBQ was found to have excellent internal consistency (α = .94), good test-retest reliability (r = .91) and sensitivity to treatment.ConclusionThese findings indicate that the EBQ is a psychometrically sound and clinically useful measure.

Beliefs about Binge Eating: Psychometric Properties of the Eating Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ-18) in Eating Disorder, Obese, and Community Samples

“…Overall, the results of this study indicate that the EBQ-18 is a valid, reliable, and clinically useful measure for use in the general population as well as with individuals seeking treatment for binge eating. These findings build upon the previous research that found an earlier, two subscale version of the EBQ to be valid and reliable with clinical and non-clinical samples [ 15 , 16 , 21 ]. These findings are also consistent with the initial examination of the factor structure, internal consistency, and content validity of the current EBQ-18 with a non-clinical sample [ 20 ].…”

“…In order to develop and evaluate effective psychological treatments for binge eating, it is important to be able to reliably measure the features underlying the development and maintenance of binge eating. Validated measures exist for the measurement of poor self-esteem (e.g., Rosenberg’s Self-Esteem Scale), poor distress tolerance (e.g., Difficulty with Emotional Regulation Scale and Distress Tolerance Scale), as well as the frequency of binge eating itself, restrained eating, the overvaluation of body shape and weight (e.g., Eating Disorders Examination), and others features that are relevant to binge eating [ 15 ]. However, to our knowledge there are only three measures available for the assessment of beliefs about binge eating predicted to maintain binge eating in individuals with eating disorders: the Eating Disorders Thought Questionnaire, Eating Disorders Core Belief Questionnaire, and the Eating Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ).…”

“…However, to our knowledge there are only three measures available for the assessment of beliefs about binge eating predicted to maintain binge eating in individuals with eating disorders: the Eating Disorders Thought Questionnaire, Eating Disorders Core Belief Questionnaire, and the Eating Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ). Of these, only the EBQ has been validated with a clinical sample [ 15 ].…”

“…Items for the three EBQ-18 subscales were developed with input from a number of experts in the area of eating disorders and cognitive therapy, for example, clinical psychologists and psychiatrists with training and experience in the assessment and treatment of eating disorders and/or the delivery of cognitive therapy [ 16 , 20 ]. Subscales were refined while using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis such that the current EBQ-18 contains the six best items from each of the three subscales [ 15 , 16 , 20 ]. The EBQ-18 can be used to assess for the presence and severity of binge eating related cognitions in both clinical and community samples.…”

“…The factor structure of the EBQ-18 has not yet been verified with a clinical or binge eating sample. An earlier two-subscale version of the EBQ demonstrated evidence of clinical utility and responsiveness to treatment [ 15 ], with EBQ scores successfully differentiating individuals with BN or BED from non-clinical control participants, and optimal clinical cut-off scores were identified [ 21 ]. In its current three-factor form, the clinical utility of EBQ-18 has yet to be assessed with an eating disorder sample.…”