Psychometric Characteristics of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale in the Context of Physical Activity in Nature

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale applied to different contexts for initial or original use, such as in the context of physical activity in nature. In order to do this, we carried out a study at some primary and secondary schools located in western Andalucía (Spain), with students aged 9-12 years old (M = 11.22; SD = 1.07). Therefore, a sample of 206 students in Study 1 (98 boys = 47.8%; 107 girls = 52.2%) and 455 students in Study 2 (228 boys = 50.1% 227 girls = 49.9%) was used. The students of the two groups that belong to the study created a program related to Physical Activity in Nature. Descriptive, exploratory, and confirmatory analyses were conducted. We also analyzed several other factors, such as internal consistency, composite reliability, average extracted variance, and convergent validity. Afterward, differences according to gender and school year were also studied. The data showed the need to eliminate many of the items from the original scale, giving, as a result, a model of six items that satisfactorily fit into the confirmatory analysis for the use of physical activity in nature. The ANOVA statistical test, used to analyze sex and school year, did not show any tangible differences between the target groups. Thanks to its application, we note that the PACES instrument cannot be applied as-is; some items must be removed or modified. Therefore, we must obtain a new, more specific instrument for these types of incipient practices undertaken in natural environments.

Keywords: enjoyment; outdoor education; physical activity in nature; teenagers.