CONVERGENT VALIDITY OF THE EATING DISORDER INVENTORY AND THE ANOREXIA-NERVOSA INVENTORY FOR SELF-RATING IN AN AUSTRIAN NONCLINICAL POPULATION

This study assesses the convergent and divergent validity of the Eatin g Disorder Inventory (EDI-German version) and the Anorexia Nervosa Inv entory for Self-Rating (ANIS) in a German-speaking nonclinical populat ion. One hundred fifty-five female and 224 male Austrian medical stude nts were surveyed. Validity was studied at a dimensional level, separa tely for both sexes, by correlating with conceptually related as well as distinct scales. These instruments included the General Health Ques tionnaire (GHQ). The intercorrelation coefficients of the EDI and the ANIS were similar to the original samples. In women, the convergent va lidity of the EDI and the ANIS was confirmed, especially for the subsc ales measuring the specific psychopathology (r = .43 to .84) and for i neffectiveness/feelings of inadequacy (r = .63). The EDI subscales Mat urity Fears and Interpersonal Distrust and the ANIS subscales Obsessiv e-Compulsive Traits and Sexual Anxiety address traits not included in the other test and these showed divergent validity. Divergent validity of the ANIS and to a lesser degree the EDI with the GHQ was establish ed. Both tests can be equally recommended for female subjects. In male s however, the validity indices of both tests were generally lower and convergent and divergent validity was not established. (C) 1994 by Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Inc.