pamukkale j sport sci Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 1309-0356 Pamukkale University 10.54141/psbd.1713635 Physical Activity and Health Fiziksel Aktivite ve Sağlık Measurement of Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport in University Students: An Adaptation Study https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2368-9157 Korkmaz Ecenur ESKISEHIR TECHNICAL UNIVERSİTY https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9430-6630 Uçar Dilara Ebru ANADOLU UNIVERSITY https://orcid.org/0009-0002-4731-5790 Ataş Sarıçam Eda ESKISEHIR TECHNICAL UNIVERSİTY https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4292-2156 Yıldızer Günay ESKISEHIR TECHNICAL UNIVERSİTY https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3555-7322 Çevik Hüseyin ESKISEHIR TECHNICAL UNIVERSİTY https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3145-6038 O'brien Kerry Monash University Advanced Online Publication 06 04 2025 02 26 2026 Copyright © 2010, Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences 2010 Pamukkale Journal of Sport Sciences

The importance of physical activity and sport for individuals' health and general well-being is well known; however, participation levels remain low worldwide. Although many structural factors have been examined in the literature to understand the reason for this, research examining relationships between psychosocial factors, such as appearance concerns and weight stigma experiences, and physical activity, and sport participation is comparatively scarce. This is in part due to the limited number of measures available to assess the role of psychosocial factors in sport and physical activity avoidance. However, the recent development of a measure to assess potential psychosocial tendencies toward avoiding sport and physical activity offers promise but has not yet been translated and validated in Turkish culture. This study aimed to translate and validate the "Tendency to Avoid Physical Activity and Sport Scale (TAPAS)" for use in Turkish culture and language. Two samples were used to test the scale’s psychometric properties. Fifty Turkish university students were used in a pilot testing phase, and 266 were surveyed to establish construct validity and reliability. Fit indices, factor loadings, Average Variance Extracted (AVE), and Construct Reliability (CR) values were examined for the Turkish version of TAPAS, composed of 9 items. Cronbach's Alpha (ɑ) coefficient was calculated for reliability. The results showed that the Turkish version of the TAPAS had good validity and reliability, along with associated psychometric properties. As a result, it was determined that the measurement tool meets the psychometric requirements for assessing physical activity avoidance with a single-factor, 9-item structure.

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