# The structural dimensions of adherence to ethnic traditional sports exercise prescription and the development of its scale

## TL;DR

This study created a reliable scale to measure how well older adults in China follow ethnic traditional sports exercise programs, focusing on cognitive, behavioral, and self-regulatory aspects.

## Contribution

A new multidimensional adherence scale for ethnic traditional sports tailored to older adults in China, grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and FITT-VP principles.

## Key findings

- The 23-item scale has three factors: Cognitive, Behavioral, and Self-Regulatory Adherence, explaining 71.7% of variance.
- The scale showed strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α 0.92–0.97) and acceptable model fit (χ2/df = 4.70, RMSEA = 0.10).
- The scale demonstrated good external and construct validity, correlating significantly with an established adherence measure.

## Abstract

The aim of the present study was to develop and validate a multidimensional adherence scale for ethnic traditional sports exercise prescriptions, specifically tailored for older adults in China. The scale was grounded in Social Cognitive Theory and was guided by the FITT-VP principles (Frequency, Intensity, Time, Type, Volume, and Progression).

The sample comprised 342 retired older adults (aged 55–80 years), with a mean age of 67.5 years (SD = 6.3), recruited from 10 universities in Guangdong Province. To verify the psychometric properties of the scale, exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were performed to determine the factor structure and model fit.

Results showed that the finalized 23-item scale presented a three-factor solution—Cognitive Adherence, Behavioral Adherence, and Self-Regulatory Adherence—accounting for 71.7% of the total variance. CFA supported the three-factor model (χ2/df = 4.70, RMSEA = 0.10), with satisfactory factor loadings (≥ 0.50) and acceptable fit indices (NFI = 0.87, CFI = 0.88, RMR = 0.05, GFI = 0.80). Internal consistency, measured by Cronbach’s α, ranged from 0.92 to 0.96 for the subscales and achieved 0.97 for the overall scale. Criterion-related validity analysis indicated significant positive correlations (p < 0.01) with an established adherence scale, supporting the external validity of the new scale. Construct validity, tested through convergent and discriminant validity measures, supported the use of the scale in evaluating adherence to ethnic traditional sports exercise prescriptions.

These findings highlight the need for culturally tailored assessment tools and the importance of addressing cognitive, behavioral, and self-regulatory dimensions to enhance adherence. Despite these strengths, the study has limitations, including the relatively homogeneous sample of retired university faculty from a single province, which may limit generalizability to more diverse elderly populations. As a general conclusion, the developed scale appears to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing adherence to ethnic traditional sports among older adults. This multidimensional tool may help professionals design more effective, theory-driven interventions, ultimately promoting active and healthy aging in culturally relevant ways.