Confirmatory factor analysis of the eating attitudes test short version in a sample of Portuguese women

Abstract

Introduction

The Eating Attitudes Test-40 (EAT-40) is a valid index of symptoms frequently observed in eating disorders. The EAT-40 was adapted and validated for the Portuguese population. Thereafter a short-version composed of 25 items selected from the exploratory factor analysis (EAT-25) was developed. Apart from the total score, the TAA-25 evaluates three dimensions: Diet, Bulimic Behaviours and Social Pressure to Eat.

Objective

To examine the factor structure of the EAT-25 using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) in a sample of Portuguese women.

Methods

The sample was composed of 433 women (mean age = 36.07; SD = 15.15). CFA was used to test the model suggested by prior exploratory factor analyses of EAT-25. AMOS software was used.

Results

After four items were deleted and some errors were correlated, CFA indicated a good fit for the second-order factor (χ²/df = 3.066; CFI = 0.918; GFI = 0.883, RMSEA = 0.069; P[rmsea ≤ 0.05] < 0.001). The 19-item TAA showed excellent internal consistency (α = 0.91) and the three dimensions presented good Cronbach's alphas (α > 0.80).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the 21-item TAA model obtained through CFA is a reliable and valid measure to assess disordered eating attitudes among women.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.