Factor Analysis of EDI-3 Eating Disorder Risk Subscales Among African American Women

This study examined the factor structure of the eating disorder subscales of the Eating Disorder Inventory–3 among African American and European American women. Confirmatory factor analyses of the three-factor model proposed by Garner were conducted separately for each group. Confirmatory factor analyses results indicated the three-factor model was an adequate fit for the European American sample, but only a mediocre fit in the African American sample. A follow-up exploratory factor analyses using the African American data produced a pattern matrix consisting of four factors (drive for thinness, bulimia, body dissatisfaction, and body satisfaction). These results indicated that while drive for thinness and bulimia appeared to capture the intended constructs in the African American sample, the third factor was divided into body dissatisfaction and body satisfaction.