A preliminary reliability and validity study of the Chinese version of the self-efficacy for exercise scale for older adults

摘要

Background: Population ageing affects most undeveloped, developing and developed countries. Less than a quarter of olderpeople undertake a level of physical activity worldwide that is sufficient to lead to health benefits. Understanding older people'sconfidence regarding engaging in exercise helps to structure physical activity interventions that motivate them to initiate andadhere to regular exercise. Estimates of the reliability and validity of the English version of the self-efficacy for exercise (SEE)scale has been widely tested and shown to be valid for use in various settings and among older people. The reliability and validityof a Chinese version of the SEE for older adults has not been tested.Aim: To undertake a preliminary assessment of the reliability and validity of the SEE scale when applied to the older Chineseadults.Methods: The Chinese version of the self-efficacy for exercise (SEE-C) scale was tested on a sample of 192 older people fromTaiwan with a mean age of 71.2 years recruited between October and December 2003.Results: There was acceptable internal consistency of the SEE-C scale. The fit of the measurement model to the data for theSEE-C scale was acceptable. There was evidence of validity of the measure based on hypothesis testing: health status predictedexercise self-efficacy, and exercise self-efficacy predicted physical activity. Those who exercised regularly (n = 102) had ahigher mean SEE-C score (5.3) than those who did not (2.9, n = 90).Conclusion: This preliminary validation study provided evidence for the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of theSEE scale. Future testing of the SEE-C scale needs to be carried out to see whether these results are generalisable to olderChinese people living in urban areas and with different characteristics. A test of the scale among younger adults for a wider useof the instrument is also warranted.