Validation of the vignette-based German Exercise Causality Orientation Scale (G-ECOS)

The Self-Determination Theory has been applied to explain behaviour in numerous contexts and cultures. In the exercise context, causality orientations (autonomy, control, impersonal) are important to describe individual differences in initiation and maintenance of health behaviour. The assessment of exercise causality orientations can be a key element to improve predictions of motivated health and exercise behaviour. Nevertheless, a scale to measure exercise causality orientations has not been established in German yet. Thus, it was the aim of the present work to translate the Exercise Causality Orientations Scale to German and to test it throughout three studies. The German G-ECOS questionnaire was cross-validated via confirmatory factor analyses in two separate samples. Both Study 1 (n = 306, 72.60% female, age M = 26.00, SD = 5.66; CFI = .96) and Study 2 (n = 320, 70.94% female, age M = 29.00, SD = 3.54; CFI = .95) indicated a good model fits. In a further Study 3 (n = 548, 62.50% female, age M = 30.17, SD = 11.91), the relations between exercise causality orientations and other SDT related constructs were examined. The correlations indicated positive associations between autonomy causality orientation and intrinsic regulation, intrinsic exercise participation goals, and exercise basic needs satisfaction. Overall, the assessment of exercise causality orientations can be useful in analysing and potentially predicting motivated exercise behaviour.

自我决定理论（Self-Determination Theory）已被广泛应用于解释不同情境与文化背景下的人类行为。在运动情境中，因果定向（causality orientations）包含自主性定向、控制性定向与非人格性定向，其对于刻画健康行为启动与维持过程中的个体差异具有重要价值。对运动因果定向的评估，或是优化动机性健康与运动行为预测效果的关键环节。然而，目前德语语境中尚未有成熟的运动因果定向测量量表。为此，本研究旨在将《运动因果定向量表》（Exercise Causality Orientations Scale）翻译为德语版本，并通过三项研究对其进行实证检验。德语版G-ECOS问卷通过验证性因素分析（confirmatory factor analyses）在两个独立样本中完成交叉验证。研究1（n=306，女性占比72.60%，年龄均值M=26.00，标准差SD=5.66；拟合指数CFI=0.96）与研究2（n=320，女性占比70.94%，年龄均值M=29.00，标准差SD=3.54；CFI=0.95）均展现出良好的模型拟合效果。在后续的研究3（n=548，女性占比62.50%，年龄均值M=30.17，标准差SD=11.91）中，研究者考察了运动因果定向与其他自我决定理论相关构念之间的关联。相关分析结果显示，自主性因果定向与内在调节、内在性运动参与目标以及运动基本心理需求满足之间存在显著正相关关系。综合来看，运动因果定向的评估可有效用于分析乃至潜在预测动机性运动行为。