Turkish adaptation and validation of the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire – Short Parent Version (EDE-QS-P)

Eating disorders are complex psychiatric conditions characterized by intense concerns related to body image and weight. Adolescents and school-aged children are considered at risk due to their developmental characteristics. However, difficulties in recognizing and expressing symptoms within this age group often complicate the diagnostic process. Parent-reported assessment tools play a crucial role in monitoring eating behaviours and supporting early intervention. Therefore, cultural adaptation and psychometric evaluation of eating disorders scales designed for children and adolescents are essential for enhancing the effectiveness of early diagnosis. This study aims to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire – Short Parent Version (EDE-QS-P), which was developed to assess eating disorder symptoms in children and adolescents. This cross-sectional validity and reliability study was conducted with a total of 516 participants from two schools located in the Aegean region of Türkiye. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews. The original scale, consists of 11 items, is answered using a 4-point Likert scale, and yields a total score ranging from 0 to 33. Data analysis included confirmatory factor analysis, content validity index (CVI), Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, McDonald’s omega coefficient, test–retest method, and split-half reliability method. In the study, the mean total score of the scale was determined as 3.73 ± 5.79. The CVI was found to be 0.99, and confirmatory factor analysis results indicated a good model fit (RMSEA = 0.075; χ²/df = 4.902; CFI = 0.97). In the reliability analysis, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated as 0.882 and McDonald’s omega as 0.891. Test–retest results showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). The Turkish version of the scale was found to have valid and reliable internal consistency. The findings support that the Turkish version of the scale is an effective assessment tool for monitoring eating disorder symptoms in children and adolescents.