Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q): Norms for young adult women

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Abstract

In order to establish norms for the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) among young adult women, the questionnaire was administered to a large general population sample of women aged 18–42 yr in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) region of Australia. Normative data were derived for EDE-Q subscales and for the occurrence of specific eating disorder behaviours, for each of five age bands (18–22, 23–27, 28–32, 33–37, 38–42 yr). Mean scores (SDs) for the Restraint, Eating Concern, Weight Concern and Shape Concern subscales for the total sample (n=5,255) were, respectively, 1.30 (1.40), 0.76 (1.06), 1.79 (1.51) and 2.23 (1.65). The mean global score was 1.52 (1.25). The regular occurrence of objective and subjective overeating episodes was reported by 10.6% and 12.7% of participants, respectively. The regular use of self-induced vomiting, laxative misuse, and use of diuretics, was reported by 1.4%, 1.0%, and 0.3%, of participants, respectively, while 2.2% of participants reported regularly using diet pills. “Extreme dietary restraint” and “excessive exercise” were reported by 3.4% and 4.9% of participants, respectively. Both attitudinal and behavioural features of eating disorder psychopathology tended to decrease with increasing age. These data will inform researchers intending to use the EDE-Q in epidemiological studies.

Section snippets

Design and participants

The research was conducted as part of the Health and Well-Being of Female ACT Residents Study, a large-scale epidemiological study of disability associated with the more commonly occurring (bulimic-type) eating disorders. At the first phase of the study, self-report questionnaires were posted to a sample of 10,000 female residents of the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) region of Australia (population 323,000), a highly urbanized region which includes the city of Canberra. Participants were

Results

Completed questionnaires were received, following reminder letters, from 5255 individuals, which represented a response rate of 57.1% after incorrectly listed addresses (n=684) and individuals away from home at the time of the survey (n=112) were taken into account. This is a conservative estimate of true response because only a proportion of individuals with incorrectly listed addresses, approximately 60%, will have been identified (Mond, Rodgers et al., 2004c). Only information concerning age

Discussion

The quality of normative data depends upon the characteristics of the population sample on which they are based, in particular its size and representativeness. We have provided comprehensive normative data for the EDE-Q among young adult women, based on a large and representative sample of this population. In addition, we were able to provide normative data for a number of different age groups within this population. This information will inform researchers intending to use the EDE-Q in

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