Differential item functioning for the Tendency of Avoiding Physical Activity and Sport Scale across two subculture samples: Taiwanese and mainland Chinese university students
Chia-Wei Fan,
Po-Ching Huang,
I-Hua Chen,
Yu-Ting Huang,
Jung-Sheng Chen,
Xavier C.C. Fung,
Ji-Kang Chen,
Yung-Ning Yang,
Kerry S. O'Brien,
Chung-Ying Lin,
Mark D. Griffiths
Affiliations
Chia-Wei Fan
Department of Occupational Therapy, AdventHealth University, Orlando, FL, USA
Po-Ching Huang
School of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan
I-Hua Chen
Chinese Academy of Education Big Data, Qufu Normal University, Shandong, China
Yu-Ting Huang
Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan
Jung-Sheng Chen
Department of Medical Research, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, 824, Taiwan
Xavier C.C. Fung
Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Ji-Kang Chen
Department of Social Work, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Yung-Ning Yang
Department of Pediatrics, E-Da Hospital, School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, E-Da Hospital, School of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Kerry S. O'Brien
Behavioural Sciences Research Lab, Monash University, Australia
Chung-Ying Lin
Institute of Allied Health Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran; Biostatistics Consulting Center, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Institute of Allied Health Sciences and Departments of Occupational Therapy and Public Health, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, 1 University Rd, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
Mark D. Griffiths
Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, NG1 4BU, UK
Aims: The aims of the study were to examine the differential item functioning (DIF) of the Tendency of Avoiding Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS) among three subgroups (gender, weight status, and region) and to test the construct and concurrent validities of the scale. Methods: Using an online survey, university students (608 Taiwanese and 2319 mainland Chinese) completed the TAPAS. Rasch analysis examined if all the 10 TAPAS items fitted the same construct and displayed no substantial DIF across three subgroups: gender (male vs. female), weight status (overweight vs. non-overweight), and region (Taiwan vs. China). Concurrent validity was examined using the scores on the Weight Self-Stigma Questionnaire (WSSQ) and Weight Bias Internalization Scale (WBIS). Results: All TAPAS items, except for Item 10 (“Prefer to participate in physical activity in a more private setting”), fitted the same construct. None of the TAPAS items displayed DIF in any of the subgroups except for Item 10 across participants from Taiwan and China (DIF contrast = −1.41). Conclusion: The TAPAS can appropriately assess the tendency to avoid physical activity and sport among both Taiwanese and mainland Chinese university students. However, Item 10 may need to be further examined.
