*2.4. Statistical Analysis and ECQ Validation*

For continuous variables, comparisons were undertaken using MANOVA, ANOVA, and t-tests. For categorical variables, chi-square tests were used for comparisons. Bonferroni corrections were used where multiple comparisons were made. Pearson product moment correlation coefficients were used to determine associations between variables. Internal consistency reliability of ECQ scales was assessed with Cronbach's alpha. Exploratory factor analysis was used to assess the factor structure of the ECQ. K-means clustering was used as a non-hierarchical method to quantify the responses on the

ECQ subscales, with an a priori cluster set to 5, to create a categorical stratification of the DASS-21 (Normal, Mild, Moderate, Severe, Extremely Severe). IBM Statistical Software Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) 26.0 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA) was used for analyses.
