Preliminary testing of the Episode-Specific Interpretations of Exercise Inventory

The purpose of this study was to develop the Episode-Specific Interpretations of Exercise Inventory (ESIE). Through a qualitative analysis of women's exercise experiences, episode-specific interpretations were defined operationally as consisting of five themes (Somatic Sensations, Affirmations, Connectedness, Explanations, and Reflections), each containing several categories. Nine-point adjectival scales were generated to represent these five qualitative themes. Older women (N = 364; mean age 69.5 +/- 6.7) completed the ESIE, the Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (EBBS), and three counterbalanced exercise behavior measures. Common factor analyses of the ESIE items resulted in nine factors. This measurement model was trimmed to six factors using structural equation modeling. Correlations with EBBS subscales and differences between high and low exercisers supported construct validity of the ESIE subscales.