The Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire and the Bulimia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire: their psychometric properties in a Turkish sample

Abstract

Objective: Deficits in motivation to change are common among individuals with eating disorders, yet there has been an absence of research on motivation in non-Western countries. The aim of this study was to develop measures of motivation to change based on the Anorexia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire (ANSOCQ) and the Bulimia Nervosa Stages of Change Questionnaire (BNSOCQ) in a Turkish population. Methods: Forty-four women with anorexia nervosa and thirty-one women with bulimia nervosa participated in the study. In order to show the reliability of the ANSOCQ and BNSOCQ, Cronbach's alpha values were evaluated. Pearson Correlation Coefficient test was used to analyze correlations between the ANSOCQ/BNSOCQ and both the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDEQ) and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The Student's t-test for independent samples was used to compare mean total scores on the ANSOCQ and BNSOCQ across the current phase of illness groups. Results: The Turkish versions of the ANSOCQ and BNSOCQ demonstrated good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.92 and 0.89, respectively). In terms of convergent validity, negative correlations were found between the ANSOCQ/BNSOCQ and each of the EDEQ subscales and (for the ANSOCQ alone) the BDI. Also, participants in the active phase of illness reported a significantly lower level of motivation compared to those in remission. Discussion: The study provides initial support for the reliability and validity of the ANSOCQ and BNSOCQ in a Turkish sample, which will enable greater cross-cultural research on motivation in eating disorders.