Development of a questionnaire to measure hyperactivity in eating disorders patients

Introduction Compulsive exercise is often associated with eating disorders (ED), particularly with anorexia nervosa (Naylor et al., 2011). ED patients develop frequently compulsive physical activity behaviours, engaging in excessive exercise, that is extreme in frequency and duration and physiologically, psychologically and socially impairing. (Meyer et al., 2011). The purpose of this study was to contribute to the reliability (internal consistency) and construct validity of a new instrument named ‘Physical Activity and Unrest Questionnaire’ (PAUQ), oriented to evaluate hyperactivity in ED patients. The study was conducted at the U. P. Centre-K.U.L. Kortenberg, Belgium. Methods PAUQ is composed by 15 items, investigating cognitive, emotional and behavioural features of hyperactivity in ED patients. The score of each items ranges from 0 to 3. PAUQ was administered together with two other questionnaires about body experience: the Body Attitude Test and two subscales of the Eating Disorders Inventory (Drive for Thinness and Body Dissatisfaction). Participants were a sample (N = 972) of women, 269 were ED inpatients (mean age 21.2 years, SD±6.2; mean BMI 17.4, SD±3.9), 703 were students and university employees (mean age 18.6 years SD±4.7, mean BMI 21.3, SD±2.7). Results Internal consistency were good (ED α=0.94; students α=0.81) . A factor analysis highlighted two main factors: ‘the duty of being physically active’ and ‘the attitude and frame of mind’. A MANOVA analysis between the two groups showed significant differences in values of each item (p<.01), with the exception of the items 7 and 8. Discussions Results contributed to test reliability and validity of the PAUQ. The questionnaire evaluates levels of hyperactivity in ED patients. Data confirm the hypothesis that hyperactivity is more frequent in ED patients than in control subjects. Moreover, the study supports the notion to deep knowledge on this topic, to better guide screening and therapeutic interventions.