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Construct validity of the Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire: flexible and rigid control subscales
E N Shearin1, M J Russ, J W Hull
1New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, Westchester Division, White Plains 10605.
The International Journal of Eating Disorders
|September 1, 1994
Summary
This study validates flexible control (FC) and rigid control (RC) dietary restraint subscales. FC relates to lower BMI and anorexia, while RC predicts higher BMI, bulimia history, and weight fluctuations in women with personality disorders.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Eating Disorders
Background:
- Dietary restraint is complex, with prior research suggesting distinct control styles.
- The Three-Factor Eating Questionnaire (TFEQ) includes restraint subscales, but their validity needs further examination.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the construct validity of flexible control (FC) and rigid control (RC) dietary restraint subscales.
- To determine the differential relationships of FC and RC with body mass index (BMI) and eating disorder diagnoses in a clinical population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the TFEQ to assess dietary restraint in 31 women with personality disorders.
- Collected weight and height data for BMI calculation.
- Assessed eating disorder history using the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID).
Main Results:
- Flexible control (FC) was inversely related to BMI and predicted anorexia diagnoses.
- Rigid control (RC) directly predicted BMI and was associated with a history of bulimia and weight fluctuations.
- The distinction between FC and RC proved valid and clinically useful in this cohort.
Conclusions:
- The FC-RC distinction provides a valid and useful framework for understanding dietary restraint in women with personality disorders.
- These findings support the differential validity of FC and RC subscales in relation to specific eating disorder symptomatology and body weight.