Measurement Invariance and Latent Mean Differences of the Chinese Version Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale Across Gender and Education Levels

Han Chen, Jun Dai, Yong Gao

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

34 Scopus citations
2 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Self-efficacy has been identified as an important determinant of youth’s behavior change including physical activity (PA) participation. However, the dimensionality check of a PA self-efficacy scale has rarely been conducted in China. The current study aims to examine (1) the unidimensionality of a shortened Chinese version of PA self-efficacy scale (S-PASESC); (2) the measurement invariance of S-PASESC across gender and levels of education; (3) the latent factor mean difference between gender and levels of education; (4) the direct effects of self-efficacy on PA by different gender and education levels; and (5) the comparisons of the direct effects of self-efficacy on PA across gender and education levels.

Methods: The participants were 5th through 11th grade public school students recruited from 7 cities located in different geographic regions of China. The final data include a total of 3003 participants (49.7% boys) who have completed the scales.

Results: Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) test supported the unidimensionality of S-PASESC. The S-PASESC is invariant across gender and 3 levels of education at both configural, full metric, and full scalar levels. Findings from latent mean comparisons showed that boys reported higher PA self-efficacy than girls. Students’ perceived PA self-efficacy tend to decrease from elementary to high school. Finally, self-efficacy positively related to PA by groups of different gender and education levels and the relationship between self-efficacy and PA is stronger among middle school boys than girls.

Conclusion: Findings suggest S-PASESC is a valid scale for measuring Chinese students’ PA self-efficacy.

Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)46-54
Number of pages9
JournalKinesiology Faculty Publications and Presentations
Volume8
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2019

Keywords

  • Chinese adolescents
  • education levels
  • factor analysis
  • gender
  • latent mean comparison
  • measurement invariance
  • Physical activity self-efficacy scale

EGS Disciplines

  • Kinesiology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Measurement Invariance and Latent Mean Differences of the Chinese Version Physical Activity Self-Efficacy Scale Across Gender and Education Levels'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this