Confirmatory factor analysis and psychometric properties of the Yale-Brown-Cornell Eating Disorders Scale Self-Report version (SR-YBC-EDS) in Spanish clinical and non-clinical samples

Objective: The aim of the study was to adapt and validate the Yale-Brown-Cornell Eating Disorder Scale (YBC-EDS) transformed into a self-report format in Spanish clinical and non-clinical samples.

Method: Eighty-three eating disordered patients and 358 non-clinical participants completed the Self Report-YBC-EDS version (SR-YBC-EDS), the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT), and the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ).

Results: Confirmatory factor analyses of a two-factor second-order model showed adequate values of goodness-of-fit indices for non-clinical (normed χ(2)=13.4578; df =18; NFI=0.980; GFI=1.00; RMSEA=0.00) and clinical samples (normed χ(2)=26.5913; df =18; NFI=0.944; GFI=0.981; RMSEA=0.076). The factor loadings were high (preoccupations range: 0.69-0.91; rituals range: 0.61-0.94). Cronbach's alpha (range α=0.85-0.90) and test-retest 2weeks later (range: 0.84-0.91) were excellent in both samples. SR-YBC-EDS showed moderate-high indices of convergent validity with PSWQ and EAT. For the total score, a cutoff of 13 showed a sensitivity of 90.4%, a specificity of 91.6%, and a diagnostic accuracy of 91.4%. Positive and negative predictive values were excellent (71.4% and 97.6%, respectively).

Discussion: Findings indicate that the SR-YBC-EDS is a reliable and valid instrument to identify symptoms and assess the severity of ED, and it can be used as a faster and less costly alternative to the YBC-EDS interview.