Spanish version of the brief Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q7): psychometric properties, dimensional structure, and sex invariance in a Spanish adult sample

Abstract Background The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is a widely used measure for eating disorders. Research on the shorter 7-item 3-factor version of the scale (EDE-Q7) supports the validity of that brief measure. Moreover, EDE-Q7 may be especially useful in large epidemiologic...

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Main Authors: María Angeles Peláez-Fernández, Nicolás Sánchez-Álvarez, Jennifer S. Mills, Natalio Extremera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:Journal of Eating Disorders
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01354-3
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author María Angeles Peláez-Fernández
Nicolás Sánchez-Álvarez
Jennifer S. Mills
Natalio Extremera
author_facet María Angeles Peláez-Fernández
Nicolás Sánchez-Álvarez
Jennifer S. Mills
Natalio Extremera
author_sort María Angeles Peláez-Fernández
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is a widely used measure for eating disorders. Research on the shorter 7-item 3-factor version of the scale (EDE-Q7) supports the validity of that brief measure. Moreover, EDE-Q7 may be especially useful in large epidemiological investigations and clinical contexts because of its shorter length. The current study examined the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Spanish language version of the EDE-Q7 in a sample of Spanish adults. Methods A non-clinical sample of 1163 adults living in Spain (806, 69.3% women) completed the EDE-Q7, the EDE-Q, and other measures of abnormal eating attitudes, depression, stress, anxiety, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Results Confirmatory factor analysis showed an adequate fit for the EDE-Q7 with a three-factor structure identified as dietary restraint, body dissatisfaction, and shape/weight over evaluation. The EDE-Q7 exhibited good internal consistency, and the results corroborated measurement invariance across sex. The instrument revealed positive correlations with the EDE-Q and abnormal eating attitudes. The EDE-Q7 also showed significant associations in the expected direction with body mass index, self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction. Conclusions Our findings support the validity and factor structure of the Spanish version of EDE-Q7 in a sample of Spanish men and women, implying that the questionnaire can be used as an autonomous measure. Measurement invariance suggests that the instrument may be appropriate for Spanish college-aged men and women and community adults.
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spelling doaj-art-708e2212371d437ca5b562d42495eae02025-08-20T03:45:39ZengBMCJournal of Eating Disorders2050-29742025-08-0113111010.1186/s40337-025-01354-3Spanish version of the brief Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q7): psychometric properties, dimensional structure, and sex invariance in a Spanish adult sampleMaría Angeles Peláez-Fernández0Nicolás Sánchez-Álvarez1Jennifer S. Mills2Natalio Extremera3Department of Social Psychology, Social Work and Social Services, and Social Anthropology, University of MálagaDepartment of Psychobiology and Methodology of Behavioral Sciences, University of MálagaDepartment of Psychology, York UniversityDepartment of Social Psychology, Social Work and Social Services, and Social Anthropology, University of MálagaAbstract Background The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is a widely used measure for eating disorders. Research on the shorter 7-item 3-factor version of the scale (EDE-Q7) supports the validity of that brief measure. Moreover, EDE-Q7 may be especially useful in large epidemiological investigations and clinical contexts because of its shorter length. The current study examined the psychometric properties and factor structure of the Spanish language version of the EDE-Q7 in a sample of Spanish adults. Methods A non-clinical sample of 1163 adults living in Spain (806, 69.3% women) completed the EDE-Q7, the EDE-Q, and other measures of abnormal eating attitudes, depression, stress, anxiety, self-esteem, and life satisfaction. Results Confirmatory factor analysis showed an adequate fit for the EDE-Q7 with a three-factor structure identified as dietary restraint, body dissatisfaction, and shape/weight over evaluation. The EDE-Q7 exhibited good internal consistency, and the results corroborated measurement invariance across sex. The instrument revealed positive correlations with the EDE-Q and abnormal eating attitudes. The EDE-Q7 also showed significant associations in the expected direction with body mass index, self-esteem, stress, anxiety, depression, and life satisfaction. Conclusions Our findings support the validity and factor structure of the Spanish version of EDE-Q7 in a sample of Spanish men and women, implying that the questionnaire can be used as an autonomous measure. Measurement invariance suggests that the instrument may be appropriate for Spanish college-aged men and women and community adults.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01354-3AssessmentConfirmatory factor analysisEating disordersEDE-QMeasurement invariance
spellingShingle María Angeles Peláez-Fernández
Nicolás Sánchez-Álvarez
Jennifer S. Mills
Natalio Extremera
Spanish version of the brief Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q7): psychometric properties, dimensional structure, and sex invariance in a Spanish adult sample
Journal of Eating Disorders
Assessment
Confirmatory factor analysis
Eating disorders
EDE-Q
Measurement invariance
title Spanish version of the brief Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q7): psychometric properties, dimensional structure, and sex invariance in a Spanish adult sample
title_full Spanish version of the brief Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q7): psychometric properties, dimensional structure, and sex invariance in a Spanish adult sample
title_fullStr Spanish version of the brief Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q7): psychometric properties, dimensional structure, and sex invariance in a Spanish adult sample
title_full_unstemmed Spanish version of the brief Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q7): psychometric properties, dimensional structure, and sex invariance in a Spanish adult sample
title_short Spanish version of the brief Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q7): psychometric properties, dimensional structure, and sex invariance in a Spanish adult sample
title_sort spanish version of the brief eating disorder examination questionnaire ede q7 psychometric properties dimensional structure and sex invariance in a spanish adult sample
topic Assessment
Confirmatory factor analysis
Eating disorders
EDE-Q
Measurement invariance
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40337-025-01354-3
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