Validity of social-cognitive measures for physical activity in middle-school girls.
OBJECTIVE
The factorial validity and measurement equivalence/invariance of scales used to measure social-cognitive correlates of physical activity among adolescent girls were examined.


METHODS
Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to questionnaire responses obtained from a multi-ethnic sample (N = 4885) of middle-school girls from six regions of the United States. A cohort of 1893 girls completed the scales in both sixth and eighth grades, allowing longitudinal analysis.


RESULTS
Theoretically and statistically sound models were developed for each scale, supporting the factorial validity of the scales in all groups. Multi-group and longitudinal invariance was confirmed across race/ethnicity groups, age within grade, BMI categories, and the 2-year period between grades.


CONCLUSIONS
The scores from the scales provide valid assessments of social-cognitive variables that are putative mediators or moderators of change in physical activity. The revised scales can be used in observational studies of change or interventions designed to increase physical activity among girls during early adolescence.
Department of Kinesiology, The University of Georgia, Ramsey Student Center, Athens, GA 30602-6554, USA. rdishman@uga.edu
Rod K
RK
Dishman
Derek P
DP
Hales
James F
JF
Sallis
Ruth
R
Saunders
Andrea L
AL
Dunn
Ariane L
AL
Bedimo-Rung
Kimberly B
KB
Ring
D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000208:ethnology; D001741:Black or African American; D001213:Asian; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009043:Motor Activity; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D020377:Self Efficacy; D012938:Social Perception; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D044465:White People