Abstract
BackgroundThe Eating Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ) is a self-report assessment tool that measures positive and negative beliefs about food and eating that are believed to play a key role in maintaining binge eating behaviour that occurs in individuals with Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and other atypical eating disorders. The present study aimed to further refine this measure with the addition of a third scale to assess permissive beliefs about eating, also thought to play a crucial role in the maintenance of binge eating. Permissive beliefs are defined as beliefs about eating that provide justification for the individual to engage in a binge eating episode.MethodsAfter consultation with the literature and endorsement from 10 experts in eating disorders, 19 permissive belief items were generated. Eight hundred eighty-three participants were recruited to complete a test battery online that included the EBQ and the new permissive items.ResultsAn exploratory factor analysis (n = 441) found a three-factor solution (positive, negative and permissive beliefs) explaining 63.4% of variance. A confirmatory factor analysis (n = 442) provided support for the three-factor model, with the data best supporting a shorter 18-item questionnaire. The revised scale demonstrated good internal consistency, as well as good convergent validity with measures of related eating disorder symptoms, emotional regulation, mood and anxiety.ConclusionsWith the addition of a third scale to measure permissive beliefs, the revised short-form of the EBQ offers clinicians and researchers a brief comprehensive tool for the measurement of positive, negative and permissive beliefs about binge eating.
Highlights
The Eating Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ) is a self-report assessment tool that measures positive and negative beliefs about food and eating that are believed to play a key role in maintaining binge eating behaviour that occurs in individuals with Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and other atypical eating disorders
Plain English summary In this paper we extend upon an existing self-report questionnaire that assesses beliefs about eating that are thought to maintain binge eating behaviour in eating disordered individuals; The Eating Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ)
The revised questionnaire consists of three scales each measuring a different type of belief about eating: positive beliefs about binge eating, negative beliefs about binge eating, and permissive beliefs about binge eating
Summary
The Eating Beliefs Questionnaire (EBQ) is a self-report assessment tool that measures positive and negative beliefs about food and eating that are believed to play a key role in maintaining binge eating behaviour that occurs in individuals with Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder and other atypical eating disorders. One exception that emphasises the role of specific cognitions in maintaining binge eating behaviours is Cooper, Wells and Todd’s cognitive model of BN [19] In this model, the cycle of bulimic behaviours (bingeing and purging) are driven by negative core beliefs, beliefs about eating/food and a series of metacognitive beliefs (beliefs about the symptoms of binge eating and processes). Wells and Todd [19] identify three main types of metacognitive beliefs that act together to maintain binge eating – positive, negative and permissive beliefs about food and eating According to this model, a binge eating episode is triggered by a distressing event which activates a negative belief about the self as an acceptable person, such as ‘I’m unlovable’ or ‘I’m a failure’. Cooper et al suggest that it is the combination and interaction of core beliefs (negative self-beliefs) and the three types of metacognitive beliefs (positive, permissive and negative beliefs about eating) that are proposed to maintain binge eating behaviour
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