Psychometric properties of a Romanian translation of the compensatory eating and behaviors in response to alcohol consumption scale (CEBRACS)

Abstract The 21-item Compensatory Eating and Behaviors in Response to Alcohol Consumption Scale (CEBRACS) is the most widely used instrument for the assessment of food and alcohol disturbance. In the present study, we examined the psychometric properties of a novel Romanian translation of the CEBRACS in two studies. In Study 1 with 1,022 Romanian university students, exploratory factor analysis and parallel analysis indicated that our data reduced to three latent factors reflecting Alcohol Effects, Bulimia, and Diet and Exercise motives. In Study 2 with 614 Romanian university students, we found that a 3-factor model based on exploratory structural equation modelling (ESEM) had better fit to the data than a model based on confirmatory factor analysis. In both studies, we found evidence of complete measurement invariance across gender identity and a lack of differential item functioning based on participant age and body mass index. The results of Study 2 also supported the convergent and concurrent validity of the Romanian CEBRACS, insofar as the three factors were significantly associated with symptoms of disordered eating, problematic alcohol use, body image, and life satisfaction. These results suggest that a 3-factor, ESEM-based model of the Romanian CEBRACS has adequate psychometric properties.