The factor structure of the eating disorder examination in clinical and community samples.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the factor structure of the Eating Disorder Examination (EDE) in three different samples and to compare the goodness-of-fit of five models of EDE data.


METHODS
The EDE was administered to eating disordered (n = 158), treatment-seeking obese (n = 170) and non-eating disordered community-based (n = 329) participants. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to compare the validity of the original four-factor EDE model with that of three-, two-, and one-factor models.


RESULTS
None of the tested models provided a "good fit" to the data in any sample, with the exception of a brief one-factor model in the eating disorder group. Estimations of internal consistency, reliability, and validity were superior for the one-, two-, and three-factor models compared to the four-factor model in all samples.


CONCLUSIONS
Overall, there was more support for a one-factor model of EDE data than for a multi-factorial model. It may be more appropriate to use Global EDE scores than individual subscale scores for research purposes.
Byrne
Susan M
SM
School of Psychology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia. sbyrne@psy.uwa.edu.au
Allen
Karina L
KL
Lampard
Amy M
AM
Dove
Emma R
ER
Fursland
Anthea
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001828:Body Image; D015992:Body Mass Index; D052018:Bulimia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000523:psychology; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012016:Reference Values; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult