Abstract
The comparison of self-reported levels of risk of exercise addiction between individuals at-risk and not-at-risk of thinness-related eating disorders (EDs) has been an increasing topic of research. However, among these two population groups, there is a lack of evidence to support the invariant nature of the Exercise Addiction Inventory (EAI), one of the most utilized self-report instruments that assesses the risk of exercise addiction. The main aim of the present study was to provide evidence concerning the invariant nature of the EAI scores in terms of thinness-related EDs’ risk status. Data from 1187 Spanish undergraduate regular exercisers aged from 18 to 30 years (Mage = 20.92, SDage = 2.48) were analyzed employing multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) techniques. Results provided evidence of configural, metric, partial scalar (intercept of Item 1 freed up), and strict invariance of the EAI scores according to EDs’ risk status. Findings of the present study support the employment of the EAI for the purpose of conducting reasonably unbiased comparisons in self-reported levels of exercise addiction between individuals at risk and not at risk for EDs.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1452-1462 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 20 Oct 2022 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jun 2024 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Behavioral addictions
- Exercise dependence
- Morbid exercise
- Problematic exercise
- Psychometrics