“If I Break You Down, Will You Grow Back Better?”: Development and Preliminary Validation of the Disrupted Embodiment Scale

The current paper presents a series of two studies intended to develop and validate a quantitative measure of disrupted embodiment (the Disrupted Embodiment Scale; DES), a clinical feature of eating disorders commonly discussed in qualitative literature but rarely examined in quantitative research. Eating disorders and subclinical disordered eating pose a significant public health risk in Western societies, and new research on the role of disrupted embodiment is needed. A reliable and valid psychometric scale, therefore, is essential. Study 1 (N = 403), which included women who self-identify as currently experiencing an eating disorder and Study 2 (N = 140) was composed of community undergraduate women. Results of factor analyses indicated a three-factor solution that fit both samples well and included three subscales: Body as Hardship, Body as Threat, and Body as Separate from Self. Furthermore, measurement invariance was investigated and scalar invariance was established between the two samples. The Disrupted Embodiment Scale demonstrated stability over a two-week period. Significant correlations in both Study 1 and Study 2 between the DES and theoretically similar constructs provided evidence for convergent and discriminant validity. Finally, DES scores explained variance in disordered eating symptomatology and impairment over and above body dissatisfaction and drive for thinness across both studies. Implications of findings are discussed.