Are constructs of the transtheoretical model for physical activity measured equivalently between sexes, age groups, and ethnicities?
OBJECTIVE
Identifying mediators of physical activity change requires measurement instruments that are reliable, valid, and generalizable to multiple populations. Despite continued application of the transtheoretical model (TTM) to the study of physical activity, the structural components of the TTM measurement instruments have been understudied in diverse populations.


METHODS
A multiethnic sample (N = 700, M (age) = 47, 63% women, 38% Caucasian) of participants living in Hawaii completed TTM measures. The factor validity and measurement equivalence/invariance (ME/I) of decisional balance, barrier self-efficacy, temptations, and processes of change instruments were explored between men, women, age groups, and ethnicities.


CONCLUSIONS
Measurement models of barrier self-efficacy and revised models of temptations and processes of change demonstrated sufficient evidence for ME/I among all subgroups. A revised model of decisional balance demonstrated sufficient evidence for ME/I between genders and among ethnicities, but not among age groups. Future research should examine the stability of these constructs across time.
Paxton
Raheem J
RJ
Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA.
Nigg
Claudio R
CR
Motl
Robert W
RW
McGee
Kelly
K
McCurdy
Dana
D
Matthai
Caroline Horwath
CH
Dishman
Rod K
RK
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003657:Decision Making; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006254:Hawaii; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D009043:Motor Activity; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States