Work

Extending the Turkish EDE-Q-13 to adolescents: a psychometric validation study

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Eating disorders are increasingly prevalent during adolescence, a critical developmental stage, and there is a pressing need for concise, yet robust assessment tools tailored for this age group. This study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-13 (EDE-Q-13) among healthy adolescents. A total of 223 participants aged 10–17 years were recruited from Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Faculty of Medicine. Internal consistency, test–retest reliability, and construct validity were examined through Cronbach’s alpha, McDonald’s omega, Composite Reliability (CR), Average Variance Extracted (AVE), confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and correlations with the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and the Body Appreciation Scale-2 (BAS-2). The total scale showed high internal consistency (α = 0.86, ω = 0.85), with subscale reliabilities ranging from acceptable to good (α = 0.60–0.87). CFA supported the original five-factor structure, yielding satisfactory model fit indices (CMIN/df = 1.58, RMSEA = 0.05, CFI = 0.97, TLI = 0.97). Test–retest reliability over a 15-day interval demonstrated strong temporal stability (r = 0.82; ICC = 0.795–0.886). Significant positive correlations with EAT-26 and negative correlations with BAS-2 confirmed convergent and discriminant validity. These findings indicate that the Turkish EDE-Q-13 is a valid, reliable, and efficient measure for assessing eating disorder psychopathology in healthy adolescents. Its brevity enhances practicality for both clinical and epidemiological research, though future validation in clinical populations is recommended. Eating disorders are becoming more common among teenagers, and early detection is very important for effective treatment. However, many existing questionnaires are too long or not designed for young people. This study tested a short and easy-to-use tool called the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-13 (EDE-Q-13) in Turkish adolescents. A total of 223 participants aged 10 to 17 years took part in the study at Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa. Researchers checked how reliable and accurate the questionnaire is by looking at how consistent the answers were whether the results stayed stable over time, and whether the questions measured what they were supposed to measure. The results showed that the Turkish EDE-Q-13 is both valid and reliable. It worked well in measuring eating disorder symptoms and related attitudes toward food and body image. Because it is brief and scientifically sound, the EDE-Q-13 can be a useful tool for researchers, psychologists, and clinicians working with adolescents.

Source: Journal of Eating Disorders

DOI: 10.1186/s40337-026-01545-6