Abstract

The aim of this study was to adapt the Childrens attitudes Toward Physical Activity inventory for adult Greek women, participants in physical fitness programs, since it is probable that a number of sociocultural factors may restrict its use to other languages and cultures. The inventory consisted of 9 subdomains, namely, Social growth, Health Fitness, Social continuation, Vertigo, Aesthetic, Catharsio, Ascetic, Body Shaping, and Relief from boredom. The sample consisted of 185 females, 18 to 50 years of age. The main group consisted of 120 females participants in physical fitness programs. 35 females participants in modern and classical dance, and 30 top athletes were also used as control groups. Internal consistency ranged from .72 to .90, item analysis from .44 to .91, and factor analysis yielded the structure validity of the inventory. Discriminant analysis among the three groups showed differences in a number of subdomains, which appear to discriminate the subjects according to the type of activity. Dancers were discriminated from the Fitness group within the Aesthetic, Ascetic, Vertigo and Body Shaping subdomains, and Top athlete group was discriminated from the Fitness group within the Vertigo and Ascetic subdomains. Based on these findings, the inventory was considered appropriate for measuring attitudes of adult females. The results are discussed in relation to the applicability of the inventory for measuring attitudes towards physical activity of adult populations. Verf.-Referat