Psychometric properties of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire among Brazilian cisgender gay and bisexual adult men.

OBJECTIVE

One of the most widely used assessment tools for disordered eating attitudes and behaviors, the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), has not yet been evaluated in Brazilian cisgender gay and bisexual men-an at-risk population given the extent of minority stressors in Brazilian culture. The present study aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the EDE-Q among Brazilian cisgender gay and bisexual adult men.

METHOD: The Brazilian EDE-Q was administered to a sample of 1409 gay and bisexual adult men, along with measures of self-objectification, body-ideal internalization, drive for muscularity, muscle dysmorphia symptoms, and body appreciation. The factor structure of the Brazilian EDE-Q was assessed using a two-step, split-sample exploratory (EFA; n = 704) and confirmatory factor analytic approach (CFA; n = 705). Additionally, convergent validity, internal consistency, and 2-week test-retest reliability were assessed.

RESULTS

Findings from an EFA and CFA revealed a one-factor structure with 22 items and adequate internal consistency (ω = .92, 95% CI = [.91, .93]). Moreover, the scale demonstrated good 2-week test-retest reliability (ICC = .86, 95% CI = [.82, .88], p < .001). The EDE-Q scores showed positive associations with self-objectification, body-ideal internalization, muscle dysmorphia symptoms, and drive for muscularity, as well as a negative association with body appreciation.

DISCUSSION: Results provide support for the use of the EDE-Q using a one-factor structure in Brazilian cisgender gay and bisexual adult men and give insights for future studies on eating disorders in sexual minorities in Latin America.

PUBLIC SIGNIFICANCE: The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) is one of the most widely used self-report measures of eating disorder symptoms. However, there is a lack of research on the validity and reliability of the EDE-Q in Latin American countries. This study evaluated the validity and reliability of the EDE-Q in Brazilian cisgender gay and bisexual adult men. Our findings give insights for future studies on eating disorders in sexual minorities in Latin America.