The validation of the Barcelona Orthorexia Scale-Spanish version: evidence from the general population.

PURPOSE: To validate the Spanish version of Barcelona Orthorexia Scale (BOS) in general population, analyzing its items and both its internal structure and psychometric properties (internal consistency and temporal stability). In addition, the relationship between ON and external measures of attitudes towards food was assessed. METHOD: The general population sample consisted of 446 women and 104 men, aged between 18.31 and 69.44 years (M = 36.03; SD = 12.46). Of these, 39 participants answered again the questionnaires after one month from the first application. The assessment instruments were a sociodemographic questionnaire, the BOS, the Eating Attitudes Test-26 (EAT-26) and the Dutch Eating Behavior Questionnaire (DEBQ). RESULTS: The final version of the BOS is composed of 35 items. Exploratory factor analysis extracted an internal structure of 5 factors (Behavioral, Concern for healthy food, Attitudes and beliefs about food, Vital achievement and Emotional discomfort). The BOS-35 and the factors presented good internal consistency (α = .80-.90), and an adequate temporal stability (r = .62-.88). The highest association was observed between the Emotional Distress (BOS) and the Diet subscale (EAT-26; r = .51). CONCLUSIONS: This first validation of the BOS has shown adequate psychometric properties, being a valid and reliable instrument to assess ON in the general population. Level of evidence Level II: Evidence obtained from well-designed controlled trials without randomization.

The Barcelona Orthorexia Scale (BOS): development process using the Delphi method.

PURPOSE: Orthorexia nervosa is a currently investigated eating disorder proposed by US physician Steve Bratman, defined as pathological fixation on eating healthy food. This study aimed to develop, by consensus of experts, the basic items for a new questionnaire to evaluate some defining psychological features of orthorexia nervosa in English and Spanish language, the so-called Barcelona Orthorexia Scale (BOS). METHODS: The initial item pool was composed of 105 items divided into six different content areas. To analyse the content of the items, a three-round Delphi study was developed, in which participants had to evaluate the representativeness and clarity of each item. Participants were chosen because of their knowledge on orthorexia and/or eating disorders. RESULTS: 58 experts, from 17 different countries, participated in the initial round and 30 in the last round. Items were added, rephrased, changed into another content area, modified or eliminated according to the participants' suggestions, partly due to the group's response, analysed statistically, and partly due to participants' recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: 64 items were obtained, with two versions in Spanish and English. The future BOS aims to provide a possible solution to the shortage of valid instruments to evaluate psychological features of orthorexia and to promote research on this field. Further analysis regarding validity and reliability is necessary to prove the BOS' value on this matter.

The hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis and personality in a sample of healthy subjects.

Thyroid hormones influence various brain pathologies, including psychiatric disorders. However, the relationship between these hormones and the psychological state in the normal, non-clinical population is poorly understood. We aimed to test whether serum levels of thyroid hormones are associated with personality in the healthy population. Thyrotropin (TSH), free T3 (FT4), total and free T4 (TT4 and FT4) concentrations were measured in the blood of 104 healthy participants (44% men) aged 18-59 (M=35±9). Personality traits were assessed using the revised short versions of the Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-140) and the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). The data were analysed by correlational, regression, extreme groups and graphical techniques, which showed significant correlations between inter-individual variations in serum thyroid hormone levels and specific aspects of personality. In particular, high serum TSH was strongly associated with higher Persistence and Self-Directedness, and negatively correlated with Harm Avoidance on the TCI-140 and Neuroticism on the NEO-FFI, thus representing a more adaptive personality profile. Furthermore, increased FT4 was associated with lower Reward-Dependence, and increased TT4 was associated with lower Cooperativeness, representing a deficit in social attachment. Our data indicate that the relationship between thyroid hormones and personality in the healthy population might be rather more complex than the results obtained in clinical samples suggest.

Coping styles and vulnerability to eating disorders in adolescent girls, by age / Estrategias de afrontamiento y vulnerabilidad a los trastornos de la conducta alimentaria, en chicas adolecentes, en función de la edad

The main goal of the study is to explore the relationship between coping styles and vulnerability to eating disorders in a sample of adolescent girls, according to their age. The sample comprises 1396 girls, aged 13 to 18, who completed the eating Disorders Inventory-3 (EDI-3) and the Adolescent Coping Scale (ACS). The regression analysis shows that the coping strategy most closely linked to the likelihood of developing an Ed in all age groups is Intropunitive Avoidance. The scales of the Intropunitive Avoidance dimension that have the most explanatory power are Tension Reduction and Self-Blame. Girls aged 13 and 17 are identified as the highest risk groups. Physical and social changes are proposed as the hypothetical explanation for the difference between age groups. Emphasis is placed on the need for specific prevention programs for adolescents, particularly those at high risk.

El objetivo principal del estudio es explorar la relación entre estilos de afrontamiento y vulnerabilidad a trastornos de alimentación en una muestra de chicas adolescentes, según su edad. La muestra está compuesta por 1396 chicas de entre 13 y 18 años, que respondieron a los cuestionarios Eating Disorders Inventory-3 (EDI-3) y el Adolescent Coping Scale (ACS). Los análisis de regresión muestran que la estrategia de afrontamiento más relacionada con el riesgo de sufrir TCA es la Huída Intropunitiva, en todas las edades. Las escalas de la dimensión Huida Intropunitiva con mayor poder explicativo son Reducción de la Tensión y Autoinculparse. Las chicas de 13 y 17 años son los grupos identificados de mayor riesgo. Los cambios físicos y sociales se presentan como una explicación hipotética para la diferencia entre grupos de edad. Se enfatiza en la necesidad de programas de prevención específicos para adolescentes, especialmente aquellos con mayor riesgo.

Dimensionality of three versions of the Eating Disorder Inventory in adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the dimensionality of three versions of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI) in adolescent girls. METHOD: The sample comprised 738 participants. The Spanish adaptation of the EDI-2 was used. The EDI-2 contains the 64 items of EDI and has the same items as EDI-3. The dimensional structures hypothesized by Garner for the three EDI versions were assessed via a series of Confirmatory Factor Analyses (CFAs). RESULTS: The CFA did not confirm Garner's proposed structure in any of the three versions. Consequently it was decided to perform Exploratory Factor Analyses (EFA) of the EDI-2 and the EDI-3 to try to identify the underlying structure. The best theoretical and empirical fit was provided by a 7-factor structure. DISCUSSION: This article presents a shortened version of the EDI-2 which may prove more suitable for use with adolescent girls in the general population than the original questionnaire. Certain practical suggestions for optimizing the use of the different versions of the EDI are also presented.

Coping style and disturbed eating attitudes in adolescent girls.

OBJECTIVE: The main goal of this work was to explore the relationship between coping styles and predisposition to eating disorders in a sample of adolescent girls. METHOD: The sample comprised 186 females (mean age 15.91 years) and the questionnaires used were the Eating Disorders Inventory-2 (EDI-2) and the Adolescent Coping Scale (ACS). RESULTS: The regression analyses indicated that the coping strategy most closely linked to the predisposition to develop an eating disorder was intropunitive avoidance, which explained the following percentage of variance: 29% of the total EDI-2 score, 23% of the personal factor, 28% of the social factor, and 4% of the bodily factor. On the other hand, the scale of intropunitive avoidance dimension with the most explanatory power was the tension reduction, which reflects emotional reactions to problems such as crying, shouting, or taking drugs. DISCUSSION: A cultural hypothesis is presented in an attempt to account for the low percentage of variance of bodily factor explained by intropunitive avoidance and emphasis is placed on the need for prevention programs for adolescents, particularly those at risk.