BIOLOGY OF EXERCISE 5 (1): 51-68, 2009 Full text (PDF file)

Factor analysis and cut-off score of the 26-item eating attitudes test in a Greek sample.

D.O.I: http:dx.doi.org/10.4127/jbe.2009.0025

ANGELIKI DOUKA, EIRINI GRAMMATOPOULOU, EMMANOUIL SKORDILIS, DIMITRA KOUTSOUKI

(Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, Kapodistrian University of Athens).

ABSTRACT

Objective: The study examined the cross-cultural validity of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) in Greece, with 26 items under three subscales ('Dieting', 'Bulimia and Food Preoccupation', 'Oral Control').

Method: A total of 167 Greek undergraduate students (19 to 23 years old), and 20 female patients with Eating Disorders (13 to 42 years old) were examined with exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.

Results: The factor analysis of the EAT-26 revealed a 13 items EAT model, with the three subscales 'Food Preoccupation', 'Dieting' and 'Important Others' fit the data (÷2/df=1.24, AGFI=.91). Cronbach alpha and test retest reliability coefficients were at the appropriate range. Thegroups of patients and undergraduate students differed significantly (Wilks' Lambda=.52, p. 05) and 12 emerged asa new cut-off score for EAT-13.

Conclusion: Cultural adaptation of the EAT-26 showed a new 13 item model which appears to be valid and reliablefor the detection of eating disorders in Greek population.

KEY WORDS: eating disorders, cross-cultural adaptation, factor analysis, reliability, validity.