Preliminary testing of the Episode-Specific Interpretations of Exercise Inventory

Area of Science:

• Exercise Psychology
• Gerontology
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Understanding individual exercise experiences is crucial for promoting physical activity.
• Existing measures may not capture the nuanced, episode-specific interpretations of exercise.
• Qualitative insights into women's exercise experiences are needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Episode-Specific Interpretations of Exercise Inventory (ESIE).
• To operationalize episode-specific interpretations into measurable themes.
• To assess the psychometric properties of the ESIE in older women.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of women's exercise experiences to identify core themes.
• Development of nine-point adjectival scales for five identified themes.
• Administration of the ESIE, Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (EBBS), and exercise behavior measures to 364 older women.
• Factor analysis and structural equation modeling to refine the ESIE measurement model.

Main Results:

• Five key themes of exercise interpretation were identified: Somatic Sensations, Affirmations, Connectedness, Explanations, and Reflections.
• Common factor analysis yielded nine factors, refined to six via structural equation modeling.
• Correlations with EBBS subscales and differences between high/low exercisers supported the construct validity of ESIE subscales.

Conclusions:

• The Episode-Specific Interpretations of Exercise Inventory (ESIE) is a valid and reliable measure.
• The ESIE captures distinct themes related to older women's exercise experiences.
• This inventory can aid in understanding and promoting exercise adherence in older adults.