Measuring perceived benefits and perceived barriers for physical activity

Area of Science:

• Exercise Psychology
• Health Behavior Research
• Psychometrics

Background:

• Understanding factors influencing physical activity in college students is crucial for public health.
• The Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS) is a common tool, but its psychometric properties and predictive validity in this population require evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the psychometric properties of the EBBS among college students.
• To examine the relationship between perceived exercise benefits/barriers and actual physical activity levels.

Main Methods:

• 398 college students completed the EBBS and the Physical Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale.
• A subsample (n=275) underwent the Seven-day Physical Activity Recall interview.

Main Results:

• The EBBS demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties.
• Perceived benefits of exercise significantly predicted physical activity levels.
• Perceived barriers did not significantly predict physical activity levels.

Conclusions:

• The EBBS is a viable measure for college students.
• Exercise benefits appear to be a stronger driver of physical activity than barriers in this demographic.
• The EBBS's factorial structure in this sample unexpectedly differed from the developers' original findings.