Reliability and validity of the Conditional Goal Setting in Eating Disorders Scale (CGS-EDS) among adults with eating disorders

The aim of this study was to develop and validate a self-report measure of Conditional Goal Setting (CGS) for use among individuals with eating disorders, the Conditional Goal Setting in Eating Disorders Scale (CGS-EDS). The CGS-EDS assesses the degree to which an individual believes that the achievement of happiness is contingent upon the attainment of body shape and weight goals. Women with a DSM-IV diagnosed eating disorder consecutively referred to a specialist outpatient clinic (N = 238) completed the CGS-EDS and self-report measures of theoretically related constructs. Exploratory factor analysis indicated a one-factor solution, which accounted for 65% of the variance. The CGS-EDS correlated positively with theoretically related measures of overvaluation of shape and weight, concern with shape and weight, dichotomous thinking, and depression. The alpha reliability of the scale was .92. The CGS-EDS is a valid and reliable measure of CGS in eating disorders and is relevant to cognitive and behavioral models of maintenance and intervention.