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Psychometric evaluation of the Arabic Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (Ar-EBBS) in Saudi adults: Reliability,
Nasser M AbuDujain1, Omar S Alobaysi2, Nawwaf N Alharbi2
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Saud University, P.O. Box 11495, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Objectives:
The Exercise Benefits and Barriers Scale (EBBS) is a well-established tool for assessing perceptions of exercise, but no validated Arabic version exists. This study aimed to translate, culturally adapt, and validate the EBBS for Arabic-speaking adults.
Study Design:
Cross-sectional electronic survey.
Methods:
The EBBS underwent a standardized forward-backward translation and harmonization process. Statistical analyses included reliability testing (Cronbach's α, McDonald's ω, ICC), item analyses, and exploratory factor analysis (principal components with Varimax rotation). Construct validity was evaluated via Pearson correlations with the Self-Efficacy Scale for Sport (SES) and the Physical Component Summary (PCS) of the 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12).
Results:
A total of 511 participants (mean age 36.2 ± 13.4 years; 64.6% female) completed the survey. The Arabic EBBS demonstrated strong psychometric performance, with high internal consistency for the total scale (α = .881) and good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.726). The Benefits (α = .954; ICC = 0.798) and Barriers (α = .843; ICC = 0.813) subscales also showed robust reliability. Factorability was excellent (KMO = 0.939; p < .001), and the exploratory factor analysis supported a clear two-factor structure consistent with the original model, accounting for 42.6% of the variance. Construct validity was supported by significant correlations with external measures: both Benefits and Barriers-Reversed were positively associated with SES and the PCS.
Conclusion:
The Arabic EBBS showed strong reliability, a clear two-factor structure, and good construct validity, supporting its use for assessing perceived benefits and barriers to exercise among Saudi Arabic-speaking adults. However, findings are based on a cross-sectional, self-reported online sample predominantly comprising women from Saudi Arabia, which may limit generalizability.
