Reliability, validity, and measurement invariance of the German version of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale

Abstract

Objective<br />The purpose of this work is to examine reliability, factorial- and criterion-related validity, and measurement invariance across age and gender of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale for children and adolescents in the German-speaking population. <br /><br />Methods<br />Confirmatory factor analysis was applied to questionnaire responses obtained from a cross-sectional sample (Study 1) of 250 girls and 254 boys and a longitudinal sample (Study 2) of 109 boys and 87 girls aged 9 to 17 years. <br /><br />Results <br />Results indicated sufficient test–retest reliability (ICC = 0.76), internal consistency (α = 0.89), and criterion-related validity (r = 0.42 with a physical activity diary; r = 0.16 with accelerometry data). Confirmatory factor analyses partially supported the factorial validity and invariance. <br /><br />Conclusions<br />The German version of the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale is sufficiently reliable and valid to be used for German-speaking children and adolescents. Further research examining the invariance over a longer period is warranted.