A revised and shortened Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale in the Context of Physical Activity in Nature is superior to an adaptation of the original scaleEnjoyment is one of the motivating factors for engaging in physical activity. While a number of instruments have been developed to assess the enjoyment factor, such instruments aren’t designed to focus specifically on physical activity in natural environments. Yet, recent trends show an increase in the number of people engaging in physical activities in natural outdoor places. This study assessed the psychometric properties of one instrument -- the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES) -- to determine its usefulness in the context of physical activity in nature.
PACES measures enjoyment during physical activity through 16 items, with each item preceded by the phrase “When I am active ... ”. Both positive (e.g., “I enjoy it.”) and negative (“I’m bored.”) statements are used. In the first phase of this study, the Spanish version of the PACES items were modified to be specific to enjoyment of physical activity in nature (such as hiking, climbing, etc.) and tested on a sample of students aged 12-13 years. A confirmatory factor analysis using responses from a sample of 9-13 year olds revealed that many of the items were not reliable. These items were eliminated resulting in a reliable, six-item scale composed of two factors (positive items and negative items). No gender or grade differences were revealed.
This research found that the PACES instrument, as originally developed, could not be applied when assessing enjoyment of physical activity in nature. However, a short version of the most robust items holds promise. This study advances the field of existing research by focusing on physical activity in the context of the natural environment, a context not previously considered by other assessments of enjoyment of physical activity.
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