Factor structure and psychometric properties of the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test in university women in Australia

Toned muscularity continues to emerge as a salient aspect of women's body image. However, there is a dearth of research investigating the potentially maladaptive eating practices and related cognitions that accompany the drive for muscularity in women. This may be attributable to the limited empirical and clinical attention previously given to muscularity-oriented disordered eating and, accordingly, the lack of validated measures assessing these concerns. To address this knowledge gap, our study aimed to provide a preliminary evaluation of the factor structure and core psychometric properties of a recently developed measure of muscularity-oriented disordered eating, the Muscularity-Oriented Eating Test (MOET), in university women in Australia.

Participants included 419 university women who completed the 15-item MOET and other self-report measures for validity evaluation as part of an online survey. Data from split-half samples were used to undertake an exploratory factor analysis and subsequent confirmatory factor analysis.

Factor analytic results supported a briefer (12-item), one-factor scale in this sample of university women. The internal consistency reliability and validity (convergent and discriminant) of this 12-item unidimensional MOET was supported.

Our study provides preliminary support for this modified MOET as a psychometrically sound self-report measure of muscularity-oriented disordered eating in university women in Australia, providing a useful tool for understanding maladaptive eating behaviors and cognitions concomitant to the pursuit of muscularity in this population.