Validity and factorial invariance of the social physique anxiety scale

Purpose: The present study 1) tested whether the two-factor model to the 12 -item Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS) was substantively meaningful or a methodological artifact representing positively and negatively worded ite ms, 2) assessed the factorial validity of the nine-item unidimensional mode l to the SPAS, 3) examined whether modifying the number of SPAS items would improve the factorial validity, 4) evaluated the factorial invariance of t he SPAS across gender, and 5) explored the construct validity of SPAS score s. Methods: Female (N = 146) and male (N = 166) college students (22.2 +/- 4.0 yr) in lecture (N = 103) and physical activity (N = 209) courses comple ted the SPAS, Physical Self-Efficacy Scale (PSES), Surveillance subscale of the Objectified Body Consciousness Scale (S-OBCS), and short form of the M arlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (SDS-C). Results: Confirmatory fact or analyses (CFA) revealed that the two-factor model to me 12-item SPAS was a methodological artifact representing positively and negatively worded it ems. CFA indicated that the nine-item unidimensional model represented an a cceptable fit to the SPAS, bur it also could be improved. Modifications bas ed on standardized residuals and item content led to the removal of two ite ms and a seven-item unidimensional solution to the SPAS. The nine- and seve n-item models demonstrated factorial invariance across gender. Correlation analyses between nine- and seven-item SPAS scores to PSES, S-OBCS, and SDS- C provided support for the construct validity. Conclusions: The nine- and s even-item unidimensional models to the SPAS demonstrated evidence of factor ial validity, factorial invariance, and construct validity; the two-factor model to the SPAS represented a methodological artifact.