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The factor structure of the Eating Attitudes Test with adolescent schoolgirls

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2009

J. Elisabeth Wells ,
Patricia A. Coope ,
Diane C. Gabb  and
Richard K. Pears
J. Elisabeth Wells*
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health, Christchurch Clinical School of Medicine, Otago University; St Margaret's College, Christchurch Family Medicine Training Programme, New Zealand
Patricia A. Coope
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health, Christchurch Clinical School of Medicine, Otago University; St Margaret's College, Christchurch Family Medicine Training Programme, New Zealand
Diane C. Gabb
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health, Christchurch Clinical School of Medicine, Otago University; St Margaret's College, Christchurch Family Medicine Training Programme, New Zealand
Richard K. Pears
Affiliation:
Department of Community Health, Christchurch Clinical School of Medicine, Otago University; St Margaret's College, Christchurch Family Medicine Training Programme, New Zealand
*
1 Address for correspondence: Dr J. E. Wells, Department of Community Health, Christchurch Clinical School of Medicine, PO Box 4345 Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Synopsis

The 40-item Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-40) was administered to teenage schoolgirls. Factor analysis (N = 749) yielded a major dieting factor almost identical to that found by Garner et al. (1982) with anorexics. Although this factor clearly measures pathology in underweight girls, its interpretation is ambiguous for normal and overweight girls. Two other factors found in all analyses were food preoccupation and social pressure to eat.

Type
Research Article
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 15 , Issue 1 , February 1985 , pp. 141 - 146
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1985

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