Confirmatory factor analysis and psychometric properties of the Norwegian version of the Repetitive Eating Questionnaire: Further evidence for two distinct subtypes of grazing behaviour

Abstract

Objective: The Repetitive Eating Questionnaire, Rep(eat)-Q, is a 12-item self-report measure of compulsive and noncompulsive forms of grazing behaviour (i.e., eating modest amounts of food in a repetitive and unplanned manner). The aim was to validate the proposed two-factor model of the Rep(eat)-Q in a community sample.

Method: A total of 190 university students (78% female) were administered the Rep(eat)-Q along with other measures of eating behaviour. Mean age was 22.6 (SD = 4.2, 19-43) and mean body mass index (BMI; kg/m² ) was 22.4 (SD = 2.9, 17-37).

Results: Findings revealed good fit indexes for the two-factor model by confirmatory factor analysis, supporting the original solution. Internal consistency was excellent for the total score and two subscales (range 0.86 to 0.91). Age and BMI did not correlate significantly with the Rep(eat)-Q. Moderate to strong correlations (r_sp ≥ 0.48 to 0.61) were found between the compulsive grazing subscale and eating-related measures, whereas weaker correlations (r_sp ≥ 0.37 to 0.45) were found between the repetitive eating subscale and eating-related measures.

Conclusions: This study confirmed the proposed factor structure of the Rep(eat)-Q in a community sample, offering additional support to the conceptual distinction between compulsive (marked by loss of control) and repetitive (noncompulsive) subtypes of grazing behaviour.

Keywords: compulsive; grazing; loss of control; psychometric properties; repetitive eating; self-report questionnaire.