Factorial validity and measurement invariance of the psychological need satisfaction in exercise scale across gender

Abdulwali Sabo; Yee Cheng Kueh; Rabiu Muazu Musa; Frank J H Lu; Garry Kuan

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0269155

Factorial validity and measurement invariance of the psychological need satisfaction in exercise scale across gender

PLoS One. 2022 Jun 7;17(6):e0269155. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0269155. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Abdulwali Sabo^{1

2}, Yee Cheng Kueh¹, Rabiu Muazu Musa³, Frank J H Lu⁴, Garry Kuan⁵

Affiliations

¹ Biostatistics and Research Methodology Unit, School of Medical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.
² Department of Community Medicine, Federal University Dutse, Dutse, Jigawa state, Nigeria.
³ Centre for Fundamental and Continuing Education, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia.
⁴ Department of Physical Education, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan.
⁵ Exercise and Sports Science, School of Health Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia.

Abstract

Background: Based on the self-determination theory, the psychological requirements for competence, autonomy, and relatedness boost beneficial exercise behaviour for healthy living. However, there is no valid, reliable Malay version scale to investigate the extent to which these psychological needs are met. The main purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of a Malay version of the Psychological Need Satisfaction in Exercise (PNSE-M) scale. In addition, the purpose of this study was to confirm the measurement and structural invariance of the PNSE-M across gender.

Methods: The study participants included 919 students (male: 49.6%, female: 50.4%), with a mean age of 20.4 years (standard deviation = 1.5). The participants were selected through convenience sampling. The 18-item PNSE-M was used to measure psychological need satisfaction in exercise. The English version of the PNSE was translated into Malay using standard forward-backward translation. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and invariance tests were performed on the three domains of the PNSE-M model. Composite reliability (CR), average variance extracted (AVE), internal consistency based on Cronbach's alpha, and test-retest reliabilities using intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were also computed.

Results: After some model re-specification, the CFA findings based on the hypothesised measurement model of three factors and 18 items indicated acceptable factor structure (CFI = .936, TLI = .923, SRMR = .054, RMSEA = .059). The CR and AVE values were .864-.902 and .573-.617, respectively. Cronbach's alpha was .891-.908, and the ICC was .980-.985. The findings supported the full measurement and structural invariance of the PNSE-M for both male and female participants. The CFA model matched the data well for both male (CFI = .926, SRMR = .057, RMSEA = .066) and female (CFI = .926, SRMR = .060, RMSEA = .065) participants.

Conclusion: The PNSE-M with three factors and 18 items is considered to be a valid, reliable instrument for university students in Malaysia. It is valid for use to make meaningful comparisons across gender.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Exercise* / psychology
Factor Analysis, Statistical
Female
Humans
Malaysia
Male
Personal Satisfaction*
Psychometrics
Reproducibility of Results
Sex Factors
Surveys and Questionnaires*
Young Adult

Grants and funding

This research was supported by the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia for Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) with Project Code: FRGS/1/2020/SKK06/USM/03/1 The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.