Examining the Factor Structure and Validity of the Social Motivational Orientations in Sport Scale

The Social Motivational Orientations in Sport Scale (SMOSS), developed by Allen (2003, 2005) to measure social goals in sport, has only been tested among late adolescent and adult samples and in either the physical education or sport setting. The purpose of this study was to extend the utility of the SMOSS scale by examining social goals in a sample of underrepresented early adolescents, and for physical activity more broadly. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) demonstrated the SMOSS was effective for measuring/identifying distinct social goal orientations for physical activity in this sample of youth and replicated Allen's (2005) three-factor model: affiliation, recognition, and status. The three-factor model demonstrated adequate concurrent and predictive validity. Findings suggest that affiliation goals for physical activity are inversely related to early adolescents' peer and emotional problems, but recognition and status goals have mixed effects on youth appearance-related motivations to engage in physical activity, peer problems, emotional problems, and prosocial behavior. This study provides evidence that the SMOSS adequately measures social goals among a sample of underrepresented early adolescents and across physical activity contexts. Findings demonstrate that social goals for physical activity during early adolescence are similar to those observed in late adolescence and adulthood. Future social goal research should involve translating results into tangible aspects of intervention development to help promote physical activity and other positive outcomes in youth.