Validity and reliability evaluation of the multidimensional Japanese athletic identity measurement scale

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the 7-item multidimensional Japanese Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS). Participants: In total, 1514 male Japanese students participated in this study. Measures: Athletic identity was measured using the Japanese AIMS (Hagiwara & Isogai, 2013). Analysis: Scale reliability and validity was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). The CFA fit estimation utilized the goodness-of-fit index (GFI), adjusted goodness-of-fit index (AGFI), comparative fit index (CFI), and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA). The results indicated an adequate fit for the Japanese athletes relative to Brewer and Cornelius’s (2001) three first-order factors (i.e., social identity, exclusivity, negative affectivity) subordinate to one higher-order athletic identity factor: GFI=.98, AGFI=.94, CFI=.99, RMSEA=.05. The internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) of the items comprising the multidimensional Japanese AIMS was acceptable. This study thus developed a multidimensional Japanese AIMS, which can be used to measure three aspects of a Japanese athlete’s identity, thereby potentially providing further insight into his or her identification with the athletic role.