The Psychometric Properties Of The Self-efficacy For Walking Scale In Community-dwelling Older Adults

Abstract

The Self-efficacy (SE) for Walking Scale, developed by McAuley et al., (2000), targets an individual’s confidence (range 0-100) to walk briskly for a duration of time. PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to analyze the psychometric properties of the SE for Walking Scale in community-dwelling older adults, a 6-item scale with increasing 10-minute intervals (0 to 60minutes). METHODS: Participants (N=300, Mage = 73.8 ± 8.2 yrs) were recruited from senior centers and completed the following: 1) SE for Walking Scale, 2) 6-minute walk test (Rikli & Jones, 1999), and 3) self-report aerobic physical activity (PA). Data were analyzed in RStudio for internal consistency reliability and concurrent validity with walking performance and PA level. RESULTS: The SE for Walking Scale was scored using the mean score of all items (M = 58.4 ±34.4). There was high internal consistency reliability across all items (>.96) and correlations of each item with the overall mean score ranged from 0.80 to 0.98. Concurrent validity with walking performance (M = 431±119yds), as measured by yards walked in 6 minutes, was moderate (PPMC = .56); there was no correlation with current aerobic PA level (PPMC = .15; M = 220±284 min/wk)). CONCLUSIONS: The SE for Walking Scale in community-dwelling older adults has evidence of reliability and moderate correlation with walking performance. However, the non correlation with current PA level may suggest other important constructs, such as intention, previous experiences with PA, or social support, influence relationships between self-efficacy, ability, and actual current physical activity behavior. These additional constructs may be important considerations in PA interventions in older adults.