Confirmatory factor and measurement invariance analyses of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire in sexual minority men and women

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the factor structure of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) in a large sample of cisgender sexual minority men and women, and subsequently, to evaluate measurement invariance by gender.

Method: The sample consisted of 962 sexual minority adult men (n = 479) and women (n = 483) who completed online self-report surveys. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using two previously supported factor structures (Friborg et al.'s four-factor model and Grilo et al.'s brief three-factor model) as well as the original four-factor structure of the EDE-Q.

Results: Results indicated that the best fitting models were Friborg et al.'s four-factor model (CFI = .974, RMSEA = .098, SRMR = .0 70) and Grilo et al.'s brief three-factor model (CFI = .999, RMSEA = .049, SRMR = .017). The model fit of both factor structures were nearly identical when examined separately for men and women. The original four-factor structure could not be supported in this sample. Measurement invariance analyses further indicated that the best fitting models were invariant by gender in sexual minority individuals. Internal consistency was adequate for all subscales of Friborg et al.'s and Grilo et al.'s models.

Discussion: The present study provides support for the use of the EDE-Q in sexual minority men and women. Additionally, findings demonstrate that the EDE-Q performs similarly in sexual minority men and women. Future research is needed to further evaluate measurement invariance of the EDE-Q by sexual orientation, gender identity, and race.

Keywords: Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire; bisexual; eating disorders; factor analysis; gay; lesbian; psychometrics; sexual minorities; symptom assessment.