Competencies for a Healthy Physically Active Lifestyle: Second-Order Analysis and Multidimensional Scaling.

Area of Science:

• Health Psychology
• Exercise Science
• Psychometrics

Background:

• The physical activity-related health competence (PAHCO) model posits movement, control, and self-regulation competence are crucial for a healthy, active lifestyle.
• Existing measurement factors (n=8) for PAHCO dimensions lack statistical aggregation at the sub-competence level.

Purpose of the Study:

• To test two additional factors for the PAHCO model.
• To model the second-order structure of PAHCO using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and multidimensional scaling.
• To validate the extended PAHCO measurement instrument in rehabilitation and prevention samples.

Main Methods:

• Two questionnaire surveys were conducted with persons with multiple sclerosis (n=475) and teaching students (n=502).
• Exploratory item analysis, second-order CFA, and multidimensional scaling were employed.
• Model fit was assessed using standard indices (CFI, RMSEA, SRMR).

Main Results:

• CFAs with 10 factors (42 items) demonstrated good model fit.
• A second-order model variant with theory-conform cross-loadings for body awareness and self-efficacy showed acceptable fit (CFI=0.926, RMSEA=0.048, SRMR=0.065).
• Multidimensional scaling results supported the extracted second-order structure.

Conclusions:

• The extension of the PAHCO measurement instrument to 10 first-order factors is psychometrically justified for the studied populations.
• The results provide a basis for creating sum scores for movement, control, and self-regulation competence.
• Further research should cross-validate the model and link PAHCO sub-competencies to health-enhancing physical activity indicators.