Determining the dimensionality of athletic identity: A "herculean" cross-cultural undertaking

Athletic identity has been defined as the degree to which the individual id entifies with the athletic role (Brewer et al., 1993b). Initial factor anal ysis of the Athletic Identity Measurement Scale (AIMS) revealed a unidimens ional solution but recent analyses with sport samples (Brewer et al., 1933a ; Hale, 1995; Martin et al., 1994) show a multidimensional three-factor mea sure (social identity, exclusivity, negative affect). Further confirmatory factor analysis of a large multicultural athlete sample (N = 1160) produced a multidimensional result with cross-cultural differences. Based on the co nflicting multidimensional findings reported more psychometric research see ms necessary on the AIMS before it proves useful for personality research i n sport.