Psychometric properties of the Farsi version of the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (F-EPSI) among Iranian University men and women

Background: Limited research has validated eating pathology assessments in Iranian men and women. The purpose of the current study was to translate and validate a Farsi version of the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (F-EPSI) in Iranian university students. Methods: Men (n = 279) and women (n = 486) completed questionnaires including the F-EPSI. Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) indicated that the F-EPSI had an acceptable fit to the data and supported the eight-factor model. The scale was partially invariant across genders. Men reported higher scores on Excessive Exercise and Muscle Building subscales, and women reported higher scores on Body Dissatisfaction and Restricting subscales. The F-EPSI subscales had good 5- to 6-month test–retest reliability. The F-EPSI demonstrated convergent validity with clinical impairment, eating pathology, and body mass index (BMI). Finally, individuals scoring above the Clinical Impairment Assessment (CIA) cutoffs reported higher scores on the F-EPSI subscales, further supporting convergent validity of the scale. Conclusion: Findings suggest that the F-EPSI will enable researchers to examine eating pathology symptoms among men and women in Iran

Validation of a Farsi version of the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (F-EPSI) among Iranian adolescents

PURPOSE: Limited research has validated eating pathology assessments in Iranian adolescent boys and girls. In particular, the measures that have been validated do not capture both boys\u27 and girls\u27 eating behaviors in adolescence. The purpose of the current study was to validate a Farsi version of the Eating Pathology Symptoms Inventory (F-EPSI) for use in Iranian adolescents. METHODS: Participants (N = 913; 85.3% girls) were adolescents who completed a battery of questionnaires including the F-EPSI. In addition, F-EPSI data for Iranian adolescents were compared with those of previously published data of adult Iranian college students. RESULTS: Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) indicated that the F-EPSI had an acceptable fit to the data and supported the eight-factor model. The scale was invariant by gender, weight status, eating disorder, and age groups. Boys reported higher scores than girls on the Excessive Exercise, Muscle Building, Body Dissatisfaction, and Binge Eating subscales. Adolescents with higher weight and eating disorder symptoms endorsed higher scores on the F-EPSI subscales. Older adolescents and adults reported higher scores than younger adolescents and adolescents, respectively. Adolescents had higher scores than adults on Restricting and Excessive Exercise subscales. The F-EPSI demonstrated good convergent validity through correlations with other eating pathology symptoms. The F-EPSI subscales were associated with depression and body mass index (zBMI) in expected directions that indicate criterion validity of the scale. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the F-EPSI is a reliable and valid measure in Iranian non-clinical adolescents. The F-EPSI will enable researchers to examine a broad array of eating pathology symptoms in adolescents for whom Farsi is their official language. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level V; Cross-sectional descriptive study

Validation of a Farsi version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (F-EDE-Q) in adolescents and university students from Iran

BACKGROUND: Although the Farsi version of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (F-EDE-Q) is frequently utilized to assess disordered eating in Iran, its factor structure, reliability, and validity have not been investigated in Iranian samples, which is the aim of the current investigation. METHOD: Using convenience sampling, this study recruited 1112 adolescents and 637 university students to complete disordered eating and mental health-focused questionnaires, including the F-EDE-Q. RESULTS: Confirmatory factor analyses of the 22 attitudinal items in the F-EDE-Q indicated that a brief seven-item, three-factor model (i.e., Dietary Restraint, Shape/Weight Overvaluation, Body Dissatisfaction with Shape and Weight) was the only factor structure that fit the data well for either sample. This brief version of the F-EDE-Q was invariant across gender, body weight, and age. Adolescent and university participants with higher weight reported higher average scores on each of the three subscales. Subscale scores showed good internal consistency reliability in the two samples. Further, supporting convergent validity, subscales were significantly associated with measures of body image-related preoccupation and bulimia symptoms, as well as measures of other theoretically related constructs including depressive symptoms and self-esteem. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that this brief, validated measure will enable researchers and clinical providers to appropriately assess disordered eating symptoms in adolescent and young adult Farsi-speaking populations

Psychometric Properties of a Farsi Translation of the Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS) in Iranian Adolescents

The 7-item Functionality Appreciation Scale (FAS; Alleva et al., 2017) measures an individual’s appreciation of their body for what it can do and is capable of doing (i.e., functionality appreciation). However, few studies have assessed the psychometric properties of the FAS in non-English speaking populations and in younger age groups. Here, we examined the psychometric properties of a novel Farsi translation of the FAS in Iranian adolescent girls and boys. A sample of 828 Iranian adolescents completed the FAS alongside the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Beck Depression Inventory-II. Participants were randomly split into a first split-half for exploratory factor analysis (EFA) or a second split-half for confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The EFA broadly supported a 1-dimensional model of FAS scores, although one item had low item-factor loadings. The CFA indicated that both the 6- and 7-item models had adequate fit. In further analyses, we found that the 7-item unidimensional model was invariant across gender and that higher FAS scores were significantly associated with higher self-esteem and lower depressive symptoms, indicative of convergent validity. These results provide evidence that the Farsi translation of the FAS is reliable and valid for use in Iranian adolescent girls and boys

Fear of COVID-19, insomnia, and eating disorder symptoms among Iranian college students

Objective: Eating disorders (EDs), fear of COVID-19, and insomnia have all increased during the COVID-19 pandemic in Western societies. Additionally, fear of COVID-19 and sleep disturbances relate to ED symptoms in Western societies. However, it is unknown whether fear of COVID-19 and insomnia relate to ED symptoms in non-Western countries, such as Iran. Thus, this study examined the relation between fear of COVID-19, insomnia, and ED symptoms among Iranian college students. Specifically, we hypothesized that insomnia and fear of COVID-19 would each uniquely relate to ED symptoms and the interaction between insomnia and fear of COVID-19 would also associate with increased ED symptoms. Method: College students (N =1,043) filled out measures assessing fear of COVID-19, insomnia, and ED symptoms. We ran moderation analyses using linear regression for global ED symptoms and negative binomial regressions for binge eating and purging. Results: Fear of COVID-19 and insomnia had unique effects on global ED symptoms and binge eating. Insomnia, but not fear of COVID-19, had a unique effect on purging. No significant interaction effect was found. Discussion: This study was the first to examine the association between fear of COVID-19 and insomnia on ED symptoms in Iran. Fear of COVID-19 and insomnia should be incorporated into novel assessments and treatments for EDs

The validity and reliability of the Farsi version of the Body, Eating, and Exercise Comparison Orientation Measure (F-BEECOM) among Iranian male and female students

Body-, eating-, and exercise-related social comparison tendencies are implicated in body dissatisfaction and disordered eating among Western women. To date, no published study examines eating- and exercise-related comparisons in a male or non-Western sample. The current series of studies fills these gaps in the literature by translating and validating the existing measure of these comparisons (the 18-item Body, Eating, and Exercise Comparison Orientation Measure [BEECOM]) in samples of Iranian men and women. In Studies 1 and 2, female (n = 284) and male (n = 302) participants completed the translated Farsi BEECOM. Scores were analyzed by exploratory factor analyses (EFA) revealing two different three factor, 15-item scale structures for men and women. In Studies 3 and 4, participants (female n = 384; male n = 253) completed measures of social comparison and psychological functioning in one session. These data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) and Pearson correlations. Each CFA yielded adequately fitting models. Results support the use of two different 15-item Farsi BEECOM measures with women and men and highlight unique gender differences in social comparison tendencies. The resulting F-BEECOM demonstrates strong psychometric properties and will be a useful research tool in Iranian women and men

Eating disorder symptoms among adolescent boys and girls in Iran

Objective: Few studies of eating disorder (ED) symptoms among young people in Iran have been conducted. This cross-sectional study examined ED symptoms, assessed by the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q). Method: Adolescent boys (n = 498) and girls (n = 607) aged 12–19 years, recruited from schools in four different regions of Iran, completed a survey that included the EDE-Q. ED symptoms, namely, EDE-Q global scores and the occurrence of specific ED behaviors, were compared between boys and girls. Results: Girls had higher global scores and were more likely to report regular extreme dietary restriction than boys (16.6 vs. 12.0%). The effect sizes for these differences were small. The regular occurrence of other behaviors (girls vs. boys—binge eating: 21.1 vs. 18.8%; self-induced vomiting: 3.3 vs. 5.4%; laxative misuse: 6.1 vs. 7.6%; excessive exercise: 5.3 vs. 4.4%) did not significantly differ by gender. Twelve percent of boys and 12.9% of girls met criteria for an operational definition of “probable ED case.” Conclusion: ED symptoms appear to be relatively common among Iranian adolescent boys and girls. Programs designed to reduce the occurrence and adverse impact of these symptoms may therefore be increasingly important

Table_1_Sociocultural correlates of eating pathology in college women from US and Iran.DOCX

ObjectiveThe buffering role of the hijab as a protective factor against eating pathology has been questioned in countries where wearing the hijab is compulsory, such as Iran; and, cross-cultural comparisons of body image in Iranian and Western women are sparse. Consequently, we examined sociocultural correlates of eating pathology in US and Iranian women.MethodCollege women from the US (n = 709) and Iran (n = 331) completed the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and the Sociocultural Attitude Toward to Appearance Questionnaire-4 (SATAQ-4). Prior to examining main hypotheses, we evaluated whether the scales perform similarly (i.e., establish measurement invariance) by culture.ResultsThe EDE-Q and SATAQ-4 were not invariant by culture indicating that the scales performed differently across groups, so separate analyses were conducted in each sample. Thin-ideal internalization and pressures for thinness were significant positive predictors of eating pathology in both US and Iranian women.ConclusionBoth pressures for thinness and thin-ideal internalization appear to be relevant to eating pathology in women from both cultures. However, there may be important cross-cultural differences in the interpretation or experience of these constructs. Further understanding of this measurement non-invariance and the ways in which Iranian women may be uniquely impacted by Western values of appearance is a critical next step.</p

Validation of a Farsi version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (F-EDE-Q) in adolescents and university students from Iran.

BackgroundAlthough the Farsi version of the Eating Disorder Examination-Questionnaire (F-EDE-Q) is frequently utilized to assess disordered eating in Iran, its factor structure, reliability, and validity have not been investigated in Iranian samples, which is the aim of the current investigation.MethodUsing convenience sampling, this study recruited 1112 adolescents and 637 university students to complete disordered eating and mental health-focused questionnaires, including the F-EDE-Q.ResultsConfirmatory factor analyses of the 22 attitudinal items in the F-EDE-Q indicated that a brief seven-item, three-factor model (i.e., Dietary Restraint, Shape/Weight Overvaluation, Body Dissatisfaction with Shape and Weight) was the only factor structure that fit the data well for either sample. This brief version of the F-EDE-Q was invariant across gender, body weight, and age. Adolescent and university participants with higher weight reported higher average scores on each of the three subscales. Subscale scores showed good internal consistency reliability in the two samples. Further, supporting convergent validity, subscales were significantly associated with measures of body image-related preoccupation and bulimia symptoms, as well as measures of other theoretically related constructs including depressive symptoms and self-esteem.ConclusionFindings suggest that this brief, validated measure will enable researchers and clinical providers to appropriately assess disordered eating symptoms in adolescent and young adult Farsi-speaking populations