Validity and Reliability Study of the Exercise Motivation Barriers Scale (EMBAR)

The objective of this study is to develop a valid and reliable measurement instrument to assess the motivational barriers individuals encounter in the process of exercising and participating in physical activity. A comprehensive understanding of the barriers to exercise motivation is imperative for enhancing participation in physical activity and fostering sustainable healthy lifestyle behaviours. Consequently, the Exercise Motivation Barriers Scale (EMBAR) was developed, and its psychometric properties were examined.The study was conducted in two phases. In the initial phase, a 20-item pool was generated through a comprehensive literature review and a thorough examination of theoretical foundations. The content validity of the instrument was evaluated through the opinions of four subject-matter experts. The content validity ratio (CVR) and content validity index (CVI) were subsequently calculated, with all items being deemed appropriate. Subsequently, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was performed on a pilot sample of 343 participants. Items with factor loadings below .40 were eliminated, and the scale was reduced to a single-factor structure consisting of six items.In the second phase, the factor structure of the scale was tested through Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) on a main sample of 540 participants. The obtained fit indices indicated a satisfactory model fit (χ²/df = 3.009; CFI = .994; TLI = .985; RMSEA = .061; GFI = .989). The measurement invariance of the scale was examined across age and gender using multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), which demonstrated that the scale functions similarly across different groups. The reliability of the scale was evaluated using Cronbach's alpha coefficient, yielding a high internal consistency (α = .90).In conclusion, the Exercise Motivation Barriers Scale is proposed as a valid and reliable instrument for measuring the motivational barriers individuals face in the process of participating in physical activity.