Continued development of the Rural Active Living Perceived Environmental Support Scale (RALPESS): preliminary...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Exercise Science
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Many US adults do not meet physical activity guidelines, with rural populations facing greater health challenges.
• Rural American Indians experience higher risks of obesity and related health issues due to physical inactivity.
• Perceived environmental factors influencing exercise are understudied in diverse rural communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish the validity and reliability of the Rural Active Living Perceived Environmental Support Scale (RALPESS).
• To assess the RALPESS within a predominantly rural American Indian sample.
• To provide a tool for measuring environmental support for physical activity in this population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional pilot study involving 130 adults from 19 rural Oklahoma localities.
• Administration of the 33-item RALPESS.
• Confirmatory factor analysis to examine the scale's structure and reliability (Cronbach's alpha).

Main Results:

• Confirmatory factor analysis indicated an adequate fit of the hypothesized RALPESS model to the data.
• The scale demonstrated acceptable fit indices (e.g., CFI, GFI, RMSEA).
• The RALPESS exhibited suitable internal consistency, with Cronbach's alpha ranging from 0.82 to 0.96.

Conclusions:

• The RALPESS is a valid and reliable measurement tool for rural American Indian populations.
• Further validation in diverse rural settings can support research on physical activity promotion.
• Findings may aid in developing effective programs to increase exercise engagement.