The Psychometric Properties of the Behavioural Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3): Factorial Structure, Invariance and Validity in the Italian Context

Elisa Cavicchiolo, Maurizio Sibilio, Fabio Lucidi, Mauro Cozzolino, Andrea Chirico, Laura Girelli, Sara Manganelli, Francesco Giancamilli, Federica Galli, Pierluigi Diotaiuti, Arnaldo Zelli, Luca Mallia, Tommaso Palombi, Dario Fegatelli, Flavia Albarello and Fabio Alivernini
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Elisa Cavicchiolo: Department of Human, Philosophical and Educational Sciences, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Maurizio Sibilio: Department of Human, Philosophical and Educational Sciences, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Fabio Lucidi: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Mauro Cozzolino: Department of Human, Philosophical and Educational Sciences, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Andrea Chirico: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Laura Girelli: Department of Human, Philosophical and Educational Sciences, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, Italy
Sara Manganelli: National Institute for the Evaluation of the Education System (INVALSI), 00153 Rome, Italy
Francesco Giancamilli: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Federica Galli: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00185 Rome, Italy
Pierluigi Diotaiuti: Department of Human Sciences, Society and Health, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, 03043 Cassino, Italy
Arnaldo Zelli: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00185 Rome, Italy
Luca Mallia: Department of Movement, Human and Health Sciences, University of Rome “Foro Italico”, 00185 Rome, Italy
Tommaso Palombi: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Dario Fegatelli: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Flavia Albarello: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Fabio Alivernini: Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-14

Abstract: Background: Motivation to engage in physical activity plays a central role in ensuring the health of the population. The present study investigated the psychometric properties and validity in Italy of the Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire (BREQ-3), a widely used instrument for assessing individuals’ motivation to exercise based on self-determination theory (SDT). Methods: A large sample (N = 2222; females = 55.4%; M age = 36.4 years, SD age = 13.9, min = 20, max = 69) of young people, and middle aged and older adults completed the Italian translation of the BREQ-3, also indicating their intentions to exercise in the following weeks. Results: Confirmatory factor analyses showed that the posited six-factor structure of the BREQ-3 fitted the data well (CFI = 0.96; RMSEA = 0.05; SRMR = 0.04) and provided evidence for full measurement invariance across gender and different age groups. The construct validity of the BREQ-3 was supported by the latent correlations among the subscales, which were consistent with the quasi-simplex pattern theorized by SDT. The overall level of self-determination and the intention to exercise were positively correlated, providing evidence for the criterion validity of the scale. Conclusions: The Italian version of the BREQ-3 has proved to be a reliable and valid instrument for measuring the behavioral regulation of exercise in individuals with different demographic characteristics.

Keywords: Behavioral Regulation in Exercise Questionnaire; BREQ-3; Italian validation; motivation; self-determination theory; exercise (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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