Development and preliminary validation of a Chinese Physical Activity Parenting Practices Scale (3–6 years)

BackgroundThis study aimed to develop a scale to assess the physical activity (PA)-related parenting practices of Chinese parents of children aged 3–6 years based on general parenting theory.MethodsA pool of scale items (123 items) was constructed based on a literature review and in-depth personal i...

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Main Authors: Ren Na, Ying Liang, Haiyue Zhang, Zhe Yang, Nan Li, Wei Zhang, Han Tang, Weiliang Ye, Linyuan Zhang, Xun Jiang, Lei Shang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-04-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1560244/full
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author Ren Na
Ying Liang
Haiyue Zhang
Zhe Yang
Nan Li
Wei Zhang
Han Tang
Weiliang Ye
Linyuan Zhang
Xun Jiang
Lei Shang
author_facet Ren Na
Ying Liang
Haiyue Zhang
Zhe Yang
Nan Li
Wei Zhang
Han Tang
Weiliang Ye
Linyuan Zhang
Xun Jiang
Lei Shang
author_sort Ren Na
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThis study aimed to develop a scale to assess the physical activity (PA)-related parenting practices of Chinese parents of children aged 3–6 years based on general parenting theory.MethodsA pool of scale items (123 items) was constructed based on a literature review and in-depth personal interviews. The pretest scale (60 items) was developed using Delphi correspondence and a presurvey. After two rounds of item screening of the pretest scale using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and analysis of variance, we deleted 30 items. We ultimately developed a formal version of the Chinese Physical Activity Parenting Practices Scale (CPAPPS) using the remaining 30 items. We examined the structure of the scale using factor analysis and evaluated its reliability, validity, and discriminant ability using data from 899 parents of children aged 3–6 years.ResultsThe CPAPPS includes 30 items in 6 dimensions scored on a 5-point Likert scale. The 6 dimensions are education, autonomy promotion, modeling, demands, expectations, and rewards. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the construct validity of the scale. Furthermore, the scale had adequate internal consistency, split-half reliability, test–retest reliability, and concurrent validity. Parents younger than 30 scored significantly lower on the demand dimension than parents aged 40–50 (p < 0.05). The differences in rewards and expectations between parents of different ethnicities were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Compared with married parents, parents who were currently single had lower scores for education, rewards, modeling, and autonomy promotion (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in scores across all dimensions between parents with different places of residence (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe CPAPPS satisfies the conditions for reliability and validity in accordance with psychometric requirements. The scale can be employed to evaluate the characteristics of Chinese parents’ physical activity-related parenting practices and to design family-based PA interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-5f787f3fd3d84b2e92edacde9b014d282025-08-20T03:10:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-04-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15602441560244Development and preliminary validation of a Chinese Physical Activity Parenting Practices Scale (3–6 years)Ren Na0Ying Liang1Haiyue Zhang2Zhe Yang3Nan Li4Wei Zhang5Han Tang6Weiliang Ye7Linyuan Zhang8Xun Jiang9Lei Shang10Department of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaDepartment of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaDepartment of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaDepartment of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaDepartment of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaDepartment of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaDepartment of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Management, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaSchool of Nursing, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaDepartment of Pediatrics, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaDepartment of Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Air Force Military Medical University, Xi'an, ChinaBackgroundThis study aimed to develop a scale to assess the physical activity (PA)-related parenting practices of Chinese parents of children aged 3–6 years based on general parenting theory.MethodsA pool of scale items (123 items) was constructed based on a literature review and in-depth personal interviews. The pretest scale (60 items) was developed using Delphi correspondence and a presurvey. After two rounds of item screening of the pretest scale using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and analysis of variance, we deleted 30 items. We ultimately developed a formal version of the Chinese Physical Activity Parenting Practices Scale (CPAPPS) using the remaining 30 items. We examined the structure of the scale using factor analysis and evaluated its reliability, validity, and discriminant ability using data from 899 parents of children aged 3–6 years.ResultsThe CPAPPS includes 30 items in 6 dimensions scored on a 5-point Likert scale. The 6 dimensions are education, autonomy promotion, modeling, demands, expectations, and rewards. Both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed the construct validity of the scale. Furthermore, the scale had adequate internal consistency, split-half reliability, test–retest reliability, and concurrent validity. Parents younger than 30 scored significantly lower on the demand dimension than parents aged 40–50 (p < 0.05). The differences in rewards and expectations between parents of different ethnicities were statistically significant (p < 0.05). Compared with married parents, parents who were currently single had lower scores for education, rewards, modeling, and autonomy promotion (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in scores across all dimensions between parents with different places of residence (p < 0.05).ConclusionThe CPAPPS satisfies the conditions for reliability and validity in accordance with psychometric requirements. The scale can be employed to evaluate the characteristics of Chinese parents’ physical activity-related parenting practices and to design family-based PA interventions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1560244/fullphysical activityvalidityreliabilitymeasurementparentschildren
spellingShingle Ren Na
Ying Liang
Haiyue Zhang
Zhe Yang
Nan Li
Wei Zhang
Han Tang
Weiliang Ye
Linyuan Zhang
Xun Jiang
Lei Shang
Development and preliminary validation of a Chinese Physical Activity Parenting Practices Scale (3–6 years)
Frontiers in Psychology
physical activity
validity
reliability
measurement
parents
children
title Development and preliminary validation of a Chinese Physical Activity Parenting Practices Scale (3–6 years)
title_full Development and preliminary validation of a Chinese Physical Activity Parenting Practices Scale (3–6 years)
title_fullStr Development and preliminary validation of a Chinese Physical Activity Parenting Practices Scale (3–6 years)
title_full_unstemmed Development and preliminary validation of a Chinese Physical Activity Parenting Practices Scale (3–6 years)
title_short Development and preliminary validation of a Chinese Physical Activity Parenting Practices Scale (3–6 years)
title_sort development and preliminary validation of a chinese physical activity parenting practices scale 3 6 years
topic physical activity
validity
reliability
measurement
parents
children
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1560244/full
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