Methodological contributions to assess the intention to continue practicing physical exercise
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29076/issn.2602-8379vol9iss017.2025pp21-31pKeywords:
psychological assessment, future intention, motivation, physical exerciseAbstract
The future intention to continue practicing physical exercise is a determining factor for maintaining it. Among the heterogeneity of the operationalizations, assessments based on the estimation of the probability of continuing with a future practice stand out. The aim is to analyze the performance of a scale designed to assess the future intention to continue practicing physical exercise in Argentine adults. Four items were delimited, representative of different time periods, with responses included in a continuum from 0% to 100%. A total of 219 adults residing in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires who reported regular physical exercise participated in the study. The descriptive analysis showed a predominant choice of response for the maximum values of the scale, showing high mean scores and a marked negative asymmetry. Positive associations were presented between the intention and the different characteristics of the exercise. Even so, the scatter graphs show a marked grouping of cases at the highest value of intention. The results show important practical limitations of the scale, with a predominance of the ceiling effect and difficulty in discriminating between participants' intentions. The need to develop new content and to be cautious when applying and interpreting similar measures is highlighted.
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