Validation of the Disordered Eating Attitude Scale for adolescents

Marle S Alvarenga,Sonia T Philippi,Fernanda B Scagliusi,Priscila Koritar,Vanessa D Pinzon,Bacy Fleitlich-Bilyk,Manoela Figueiredo

doi:10.1590/0047-2085000000101

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective To perform the psychometric evaluation of the Disordered Eating Attitude Scale (DEAS) for adolescents. Methods Sample consisted of 1,119 Brazilian adolescents (12-18 years old; 59.6% female) studying at technical schools in São Paulo state-Brazil, who answered an online survey with the DEAS, the Eating Attitude Test (EAT-26), and the Restraint Scale (RS). The internal consistency of the DEAS was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha. The convergent validity of DEAS was evaluated by means of Pearson’s coefficient correlation with EAT-26 and RS. The test-retest reliability was evaluated using a sub-sample of 61 adolescents. Known-groups validity was determined by comparing female student mean scores with scores of 33 female adolescents with eating disorders. Results The reliability of the DEAS was 0.79. EAT-26 and RS scores were positively correlated with DEAS scores (EAT: 0.78 for females and 0.59 for males, p < 0.001; RS: 0.63 for females and 0.48 for males, p < 0.001). The DEAS total and subscale scores differentiated students and patients with eating disorders (p < 0.001). The intra-class correlation coefficient for test-retest reliability was 0.87. Conclusion Results indicate that the DEAS adolescent version showed good internal consistency, convergent validity, known-groups validity, and test-retest reliability, suggesting its potential in identifying disordered eating attitudes among adolescents. It could also be helpful in identifying adolescents at risk from eating disorders, assisting in prevention programs.

Highlights

Eating disorders (EDs), such as anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED) are psychiatric illnesses characterized by eating and body image disturbances[1]
The mean ages of male and female were similar, but the samples differed on body mass index (BMI) (p < .001): higher for males than for females
In terms of nutritional status, 82.5% of females were within the normal weight range compared with 67.6% of males; 15.0% of females and 28.2% of males were overweight; 2.6% of females and 4.4% of males were underweight, according to percentile IMC-age[33]

Summary

Introduction

Eating disorders (EDs), such as anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN) and other specified feeding and eating disorders (OSFED) are psychiatric illnesses characterized by eating and body image disturbances[1]. Some studies indicate an increasing trend in the incidence of AN and BN, especially in young people between 15 and 24 years[2,3,4]. Occurrence of EDs, especially AN, in prepubertal children has caught the attention of the scientific community in recent years[5,6,7]. Younger patients tend to follow more drastic and severe dietary restrictions[10], and compensatory behaviors tend to be non-purgative (e.g., excessive exercise)[3,6]. In older adolescents of 15-16 years, purging behaviors such as vomiting and laxative abuse are more common[2,3,6]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion