Validation of the Intuitive Exercise Scale in Patients With Eating Disorders

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Dana K. Voelker West Virginia University

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Nick Galli The University of Utah

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Maya Miyairi Utah State University

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Justine J. Reel University of North Carolina Wilmington

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Karley James McCallum Place

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/jcsp.2021-0033
Keywords:
clinical; intuitive eating; measurement; recovery; treatment
First Published Online:
09 Sep 2021
In Print:
Volume 16: Issue 2
Page Range:
165–181
Restricted access

Unhealthy cognitive–emotional relationships with exercise can hinder positive treatment outcomes when left unaddressed. However, clinicians lack validated tools to monitor this aspect of treatment. This study examined the 14-item Intuitive Exercise Scale with 165 patients in the United States (Mage = 26.48 years) who were receiving treatment for an eating disorder. The original factor structure was inadequate for the current sample, and exploratory factor analysis generated three factors—emotional exercise, body intuition, and exercise variety. The three-factor solution yielded strong internal consistency and partial support for the scale’s validity. Furthermore, patients scored lowest in body intuition, confirming low awareness of bodily cues common in patients with eating disorders. This study informs how clinicians may integrate and monitor patients’ cognitive–emotional relationship with exercise as part of holistic and intuitive eating disorder treatment approaches.

Voelker is with the College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA. Galli is with The University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Miyairi is with Utah State University, Brigham City, UT, USA. Reel is with the University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, USA. James is with McCallum Place, St. Louis, MO, USA.

Voelker (dkvoelker@mail.wvu.edu) is corresponding author.
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