Choosing an activity that suits: development and validation of a questionnaire on motivational competence in exercise and sport

The current study presents the development and validation of a questionnaire on motivational competence in exercise and sport. Motivational competence characterises the self-determined ability to choose a suitable exercise and sport activity. Knowing one’s own preferences and what to expect in different activities helps people to make this choice, which, in turn, supports them in maintaining their physical activity (PA) on a long-term and regular basis. The developed items cover the following three components of motivational competence: 1) knowing one’s own preferences, 2) knowing what to expect in different exercise and sport activities, and 3) choosing and arranging an exercise and sport activity. Psychometric properties were checked using a sample with N = 667 adults ( M age = 42.49, SD = 14.71, 62% female). The final one-dimensional scale consists of four items. Construct validity showed positive relationships to intrinsic and identified motivation modes of self-concordance and conversely no relationship to introjected and low negative to extrinsic motivation. For criterion validity, the structural equation modeling demonstrated that motivational competence and PA-specific self-control are independently and positively associated with exercise and sport behaviour. Overall, the newly developed scale is a psychometrically sound and economical instrument to be used in exercise and sport promotion (e.g. counselling) and research.