Psychometric properties of shortened versions of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire in Brazilian women

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Abstract
The Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is a widely used 28-item instrument for screening eating disorders, of which 22 are attitudinal items used to compute subscale scores and to assess factorial structure, while six open-ended items assess behavioral frequency and are excluded from dimensional analyses. Shorter versions, such as the EDE-Q7, EDE-Q8, and EDE-Q18, have been proposed to enhance accessibility and psychometric properties. This study aimed to evaluate different factorial structures of the EDE-Q and identify the model that best fits a sample of Brazilian adult women. A total of 712 women completed the EDE-Q and measures of body satisfaction and sociocultural pressures. The factorial structure was analyzed through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and convergent validity and internal consistency were also assessed. The multifactorial structure of the original EDE-Q and the 18-item model did not fit the sample well. Although the 7-item model showed acceptable fit, the 8-item version demonstrated the best fit. The EDE-Q8 factors showed a negative association with appearance evaluation and body area satisfaction, and a positive association with internalization of the thin and muscular body ideal and body mass index. Internal consistency was adequate. The 8-item short version of the EDE-Q is a reliable and practical psychometric tool for assessing disordered eating behaviors in Brazilian adult women. Future studies should explore the psychometric performance of the EDE-Q8 across different age ranges, gender groups, and clinical populations to strengthen evidence for its cross-cultural validity and generalizability. Level III, well-designed cohort or case-control analytic studies.
Funding Information
  • Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (130348/2025-2)
  • Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (2024/08757-8)
  • Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (88887.955259/2024-00)

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