Construct validity and reliability of the College Oriented Eating Disorders Screen (COEDS)

The College Oriented Eating Disorders Screen [COEDS; Nowak, J.A., Roberson-Nay, R., Strong, D.R., Bucceri, J. and Lejuez, C.W. (2003). Using item response theory in the development and validation of the College-Oriented Eating Disorders Screen. Eating Behaviors, 4, 345-361] was created for the purpose of identifying college students vulnerable to the development of an eating disorder. In a previous study, the COEDS was developed and tested among a college sample based on the continuum model of eating pathology. Following from this initial study, the purpose of the present study was to examine the internal consistency of the final seven-item version as well as its one month test-retest reliability and construct validity. Results indicated that the COEDS performed well when administered in its brief 7-item final format, yielding high internal consistency. Strong test-retest reliability also was observed. Finally, the COEDS demonstrated sound construct validity, showing statistically significant associations with independent measures of disordered eating beliefs and attitudes, as well as with measures assessing disordered eating behaviors. The results of this study provide further support for the use of the COEDS as a measure targeting college students who possess a vulnerability to development of an eating disorder.