title: The Adapted Italian Version of the Baller Identity Measurement Scale to Evaluate the Student-Athletes' Identity in Relation to Gender, Age, Type of Sport, and Competition Level.
abstract: The purpose of this paper is twofold: to validate the properties of the Italian version of the Baller Identity Measurement Scale (i.e., BIMS-IT), a self-report questionnaire based on the athletic and academic identities; and to investigate differences in psychosocial factors such as gender, age, type of sport, and competition level. The dimensionality of the BIMS-IT was explored by means of the exploratory factor analysis, considering the scale's internal consistency too (Confirmatory Factor Analysis). Results related to exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported a model of measurement composed of two correlated factors: the athletic and academic identities and affectivity related to identities. For both factors, differences emerged between age, and competition level sub groups. In particular, higher identity scores emerged for ≤ 24 years old student-athletes with respect to their age counterparts. National sub-elite student-athletes reported lower identity values than those of national elite and international levels. Results suggest that the Italian version of the BIMS-IT is psychometrically robust and could be adopted for empirical uses. The higher identity scores reported by younger and higher competition level participants suggest a correspondent higher involvement into the student-athlete role. However, BIMS-IT represents a distinct model with respect to the original American BIMS, determining the need of further research on the student-athletes' identity to better clarify any socio-cultural contest effects.
authors.affiliation: Motor Science Research Center, School of Exercise & Sport Sciences (SUISM), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Corrado
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1546-8573
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lupo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina Onesta
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Mosso
authors.affiliation: Division of Human Movement and Sport Sciences, Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome Foro Italico, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guidotti
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cugliari
authors.affiliation: Motor Science Research Center, School of Exercise & Sport Sciences (SUISM), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pizzigalli
authors.affiliation: Motor Science Research Center, School of Exercise & Sport Sciences (SUISM), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Torino, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rainoldi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult