Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q), originally validated in English-speaking women, has become a widely used tool for assessing eating pathology. However, its original factor structure has often failed to replicate in diverse populations. This study aimed to examine the factor structure and assess the measurement invariance of the EDE-Q 6.0 in a representative sample of young men and women in Lithuania. METHOD: The study included 800 participants aged 18-30 years, representing a demographically diverse sample of young adults in Lithuania. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to validate the structure of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q 6.0) and establish a configural model. Measurement invariance was assessed across sexes. Convergent validity was evaluated using the Level of Personality Functioning Scale-Brief Form 2.0 and the Patient Health Questionnaire-4. RESULTS: The original four-factor structure of the EDE-Q 6.0 was not supported. Instead, CFA indicated that a three-factor, seven-item model provided the best fit to the data (EDE-Q 7). The identified factors were Dietary Restraint, Shape/Weight Overvaluation, and Body Dissatisfaction. This model demonstrated excellent fit indices and measurement invariance across sexes. However, women reported significantly higher scores on all subscales compared to men. EDE-Q 7 exhibited adequate convergent validity, correlating with measures of personality functioning, anxiety, and depression. DISCUSSION: The three-factor, 7-item measure is a brief, valid, and reliable measure of eating disorder psychopathology for Lithuanian young adults.