Measuring Risk and Protective Factors for Eating and Body Image Concerns in LGBTGEQIAP+ Communities: An Instrument Development and Validation Study

Eating disorders (EDs) are multicultural concerns that impact people with diverse cultural and social identities. However, scholars highlight prevalent gaps in the literature regarding culturally responsive assessment and treatment for underserved groups with EDs, such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/two-spirit, gender expansive, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, pansexual (LGBTGEQIAP+) community. We developed and validated the Multidimensional Eating and Body Image Screening (MEBIS), a screening tool to examine risk and protective factors for eating and body image concerns in LGBTGEQIAP+ individuals. The MEBIS items were developed based on a comprehensive literature review and feedback from an expert panel and a small sample of LGBTGEQIAP+ individuals. Two separate community samples were recruited for exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. The MEBIS has a nine-factor structure with adequate fit, acceptable internal consistency reliability, and convergent evidence with a scale measuring similar constructs. Given the call for more intersectional, social justice-informed ED research, the MEBIS may assist counselors with broaching relevant cultural constructs and incorporating affirming counseling approaches. Limitations and directions for future research are explored further to advance efforts in culturally responsive ED assessment and treatment.