French validation and adaptation of the perceived autonomy support scale for exercise settings to the sport context

Abstract

Recently, Hagger, Chatzisarantis, Hein, Pihu, Soós, and Karsai (2007) presented a new questionnaire, the Perceived Autonomy Support Scale for Exercise Settings (PASSES), designed to evaluate perceived autonomy support toward exercise. The present research investigated the psychometric properties of a French adaptation of this scale to the sport setting in two studies. In Study 1, the French version of the PASSES (i.e., I'Échelle des Perceptions du Soutien à I'Autonomie en Sport; EPSAS) was adapted for sport and completed by 134 athletes. Results of an exploratory factor analysis revealed a unidimensional structure with factor loadings ranging from .63 to .85. Results also showed satisfactory internal consistency (qc = .91). In Study 2 (N = 203), a confirmatory factor analysis provided further support for the unidimensional structure of the questionnaire. Convergent validity of the instrument was also obtained through correlations with meaningful constructs, namely intrinsic motivation and identified regulation from the Sport Motivation Scale (Brière, Vallerand, Blais, & Pelletier, 1995). Finally, the temporal stability of the scale was also found to be adequate. Overall, these findings suggest that the EPSAS is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing perceived coach autonomy support in sport