Development and initial validation of the Engagement in Athletic Training Scale

Area of Science:

• Sports Science
• Psychometrics
• Exercise Psychology

Background:

• Assessing athletes' engagement in training is crucial for performance and adherence.
• Existing measures may not fully capture the multifaceted nature of athletic training engagement.
• A validated scale is needed to objectively evaluate this construct.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Engagement in Athletic Training Scale (EATS).
• To provide a reliable and valid instrument for measuring athletes' engagement in athletic training.
• To establish the psychometric properties of the EATS.

Main Methods:

• Multi-study approach involving item generation, content validity, exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM).
• Examination of factor structure, discriminant validity, internal consistency reliability, and nomological validity in independent samples (N=460, N=513).
• Evaluation of measurement invariance across samples and genders.

Main Results:

• The 19-item Engagement in Athletic Training Scale (EATS) was developed.
• The scale demonstrated good psychometric properties, including validity and reliability.
• Factor structure, internal consistency, and validity were supported across studies and genders.

Conclusions:

• The Engagement in Athletic Training Scale (EATS) is a psychometrically sound measure.
• The EATS can be reliably used to assess athletes' engagement in athletic training.
• This scale offers a valuable tool for researchers and practitioners in sports science and psychology.