Initial validation of the Hungarian Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire Short (EDE-QS-H) in a sample of recreational athletes.

Abstract

Introduction: Eating disorders represent an important health concern among athletes, yet validated Hungarian screening tools remain limited. The present study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and psychometrically validate the Hungarian version of the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire-Short (EDE-QS-H) in a sample of Hungarian athletes. A secondary aim was to examine the relationship between eating disorder psychopathology and multidimensional self-reported interoceptive awareness.

Methods: A total of 205 recreational athletes recruited from two university settings (51.7% women; mean age = 21.8 ± 5.6 years) completed the Hungarian EDE-QS, the Disordered Eating Screen for Athletes-Hungarian version (DESA-6H), and the Hungarian Multidimensional Assessment of Interoceptive Awareness (MAIA). Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed using the robust weighted least squares estimator with mean and variance adjustment (WLSMV). Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach's α and McDonald's ω, whereas construct validity was assessed using Pearson correlation coefficients.

Results: Sequential psychometric refinement resulted in a 10-item unidimensional model with improved model fit (χ ² = 82.77, df = 35, χ ²/df = 2.37, CFI = 0.987, TLI = 0.984, RMSEA = 0.082, SRMR = 0.066). The RMSEA was marginally above the conventional 0.08 criterion, whereas the remaining indices supported an acceptable measurement model. Standardized factor loadings ranged from 0.660 to 0.925, and the Average Variance Extracted was 0.671. The final version demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.902; McDonald's ω = 0.942). Construct validity was supported by a strong positive correlation with the DESA-6H (r = 0.643, p < 0.001), while associations with MAIA subscales were heterogeneous and generally small, indicating dimension-specific rather than broad relationships with self-reported interoceptive awareness.

Conclusion: This initial validation provides evidence that the refined 10-item EDE-QS-H has promising factorial validity, excellent internal consistency, and construct-validity support in this university-based sample of Hungarian recreational athletes. The instrument may be useful as a brief research and preliminary screening measure of eating disorder psychopathology; however, diagnostic validity and broader clinical utility require evaluation in independent and clinical samples.