Development and validation of the intuitive exercise scale.

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Exercise Science
• Behavioral Health

Background:

• Dysfunctional exercise affects up to 80% of individuals with eating disorders, characterized by excessive exercise, pain, and compulsive behaviors.
• Intuitive exercise promotes awareness of bodily cues and sensory experiences during movement, contrasting with rigid exercise adherence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a measurement tool, the Intuitive Exercise Scale (IEXS), for assessing intuitive exercise in research, treatment, and prevention.
• To provide a reliable instrument for understanding and promoting healthier relationships with physical activity.

Main Methods:

• Development and validation of the 14-item Intuitive Exercise Scale (IEXS) using survey data from 518 adult participants.
• Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to identify underlying constructs and confirm model fit.
• Measurement invariance was tested across genders, and convergent/discriminant validity was assessed using related scales.

Main Results:

• Exploratory factor analysis identified four latent constructs: emotional exercise, exercise rigidity, body trust, and mindful exercise.
• Confirmatory factor analysis supported the four-construct model (CFI=0.96; SRMR=0.06).
• The IEXS demonstrated configural, metric, and scalar invariance across genders and showed good convergent and discriminant validity.

Conclusions:

• The 14-item Intuitive Exercise Scale (IEXS) is a valid and reliable measure for assessing intuitive exercise.
• The IEXS can be utilized in research, clinical treatment, and prevention programs to differentiate intuitive exercise from dysfunctional exercise patterns.