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ABSTRACT
This study was designed to validate a new instrument created to measure motives for physical activity (PA) - the PALMS (Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale), which was found to yield sound psychometric properties. Regular exercisers, ages 9 - 89 (M = 28.65; SD = 16.48), from over 30 different fitness and recreational facilities in Israel were invited to participate in this study. A total of 678 completed the PALMS questionnaire consisting of 40 items rated on a 5-point Likert scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Exploratory factor analysis yielded nine factors that explained 73.29% of the variance: mastery, physical condition, affiliation, psychological condition, appearance, family and friends' expectations, health professionals' and employers' expectations, enjoyment, and competition/ego. We propose the PALMS as a comprehensive and reliable measure of participation motivation in PA.
Keywords: Physical Activity and Leisure Motivation Scale (PALMS), exercise, participation motivation, validation, questionnaire
The importance of physical activity (PA) and its benefits to a variety of important physical, psychological, and social aspects of life have been well-documented in an extenstive line of research (e.g., ACSM, 2009; Lloyd-Jones et al., 2010; McKenzie, 2001; Pangrazi, 2000; Sibley and Etnier, 2003). The recommended dose of PA for health benefits is also quite well-documented. For example, adults aged 25-64 should perform 150 minutes of moderateintensity aerobic activity (e.g., brisk walking) or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (e.g., jogging or running), or an equivalent mix of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, per week (ACSM, 2009; DHHS, 2008). Nevertheless, a large proportion of the population in countries such as Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2000; Australian Sports Commission, 2005), the U.S. (Butcher, Sallis, Mayer, and Woodruff, 2008), 24 countries in Europe (Armstrong and Welsman, 2006), and Israel (Zach and Netz, 2007) are still insufficiently active or maintain a sedentary lifestyle.
To evaluate why some people are physically active while others are not, researchers have examined their motives for sport and exercise involvement (see Bartholomew, Ntoumanis, and Thøgersen-Ntoumani, 2009; Biddle, Wang, Kavussanu, and Spray, 2003; FrederickRecascino and Morris, 2004). In general, current measures of participation motivation present two main approaches. The first involves developing possible motives for PA on the basis of a particular theory. This method has been adopted in the development of...