The Physical Activity Regulation Scale: Development and Validity Testing

Objective: Behavioral regulation tactics used to manage actions after the formation of a physical activity (PA) intention are common to many theories, yet comprehensive measures of PA regulation are scant. Purpose: To develop a reliable instrument of PA regulation and test predictive validity and its capacity to mediate the intention-PA relationship.Method: To achieve a pool of candidate items, we used the behavior change technique taxonomy as a template, followed by a critical literature review of PA regulation measures to extract exemplar items, and then concluded with a Delphi feedback method (N = 4). The main study included a sample representative of the Canadian adult population to explore and then confirm the construct and discriminant validity, and internal consistency reliability of the measure using two independent samples (N = 683 and N = 727). Finally, using a 2-week prospective design, the full sample was used to investigate test-retest reliability, and predictive validity of self-reported PA at Time 2.Results: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses resulted in a reliable 14-item, four-factor measure (internal consistencies > .80) of (a) proactive regulation, (b) reactive regulation, (c) social monitoring, and (d) self-monitoring, we named the Physical Activity Regulation Scale (PARS). The PARS factors explained 18% of PA at Time 2, and mediated the relationship between intention and PA.Conclusion: While continued testing is needed, the initial evidence is supportive that the PARS may be a useful PA behavioral regulation measure to include for use within various theoretical models applied to understand PA.