Reliability and validity of the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale in pregnant women

Pregnancy involves health risks that may be exacerbated by reduced physical activity. This study examined the psychometric properties of the Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS) in pregnant women. Barriers to Physical Activity During Pregnancy Scale (BPAPS), Pregnancy-Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (P-ESES), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for fear of exercise-related fetal harm, International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire (PPAQ) were used for the convergent validity. A total of 277 pregnant women (mean age: 29 ± 4.90 years) were included. Second-order CFA supported the structural validity of the EBBS, showing acceptable fit (CFI = 0.958), with all factor loadings statistically significant (p < .05). EBBS-total were positively correlated with P-ESES and IPAQ-SF (p < .001), but not with PPAQ-total (p = .865). EBBS-total and subscales were negatively correlated with BPAPS and VAS (p < .001). EBBS-Benefits and EBBS-Barriers scores were correlated with P-ESES (r_s= 0.469-0.584, p < .001), and IPAQ-SF (p ≤ .002), but not with PPAQ (p > .05). Known-group validity was not supported, as EBBS scores were similar between matched pregnant and non-pregnant women. The EBBS demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.927-0.937)). No floor or ceiling effects were observed. Further research should examine the EBBS in different populations and assess its other psychometric properties.