Scheduled for Free Communication: Assessment and Validation of Instrumentation and Theoretical Models, Wednesday, April 9, 2008, 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM, Convention Center: 202C


Appropriateness of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale for Children (SPAS-C)

Robert E. Stadulis1, Mary J. MacCracken2, Bridgie A. Ford2, Robert E. Morse3, John E. Queener2, Cheryl S. Sadler2 and KongBum Shin-Park2, (1)Kent State University, Kent, OH, (2)University of Akron, Akron, OH, (3)Tennis AllStars, Akron, OH

The present investigation sought to verify the appropriateness of using the Social Physique Anxiety Scale for Children, the SPAS-C (Stadulis, MacCracken, et al., 2005), with a more diverse sample. In the 2005 studies, participants were: 1) middle school mostly White children; and 2) pre-adolescent Black females. The current study employed the SPAS-C within the conduct of a health intervention program. By examining social physique anxiety over the program's eight months, better assessment of reliability and validity was sought as well as to determine the SPAS-C's sensitivity to changes in anxiety in response to the programming. The SPAS-C is an adaptation for children based upon Martin, Rejeski, Leary, McAuley, & Bane's (1997) revised 9-item SPAS initially developed as a 12 item scale by Hart, Leary, & Rejeski (1989). The children in the current study (N = 116) varied in age from 5 to 17 years, with the majority participants (92%) between the ages of 8 and 14 years. These participants were involved in a research influenced, culturally responsive, community and school based mobile program (called Project MacD) that focused on health promotion and prevention of Type 2 Diabetes in minority male and female youth from low-income backgrounds. Three major components of the program were: physical activity with an emphasis upon tennis; healthy lifestyles especially nutrition related to Type II diabetes and obesity; and decision making which included multicultural counseling. Physical fitness, body composition, health knowledge, motivation, and tennis skills were assessed. The SPAS-C was administered when a participant joined the program and again toward the end of the program. Internal reliability (Cronbach Alpha) = .82. Principal component factor analysis supported a two-factor model, with the seven positively worded items loading together (Eigen = 3.34, % variance = 37.2%). The two negatively worded items formed the second factor. The mean (23.7) and median (24.0) were similar; skewness (.40) and kurtosis (-.40) values indicated that the distribution did not diverge from normal distribution expectations. For those participants assessed twice, an r = .63 (p = .001) supported the external reliability of the SPAS-C. When change in anxiety over the program was assessed, social physique anxiety was somewhat lower at the end of the program (M = 18.7, S = 6.8) as compared to when the participant began the program (M = 19.9, S = 7.5). The reliability, validity, and change sensitivity of the SPAS-C in assessing social physique anxiety in youth was supported.
Keyword(s): community-based programs, measurement/evaluation, youth-at-risk

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