The reliability and validity of the sport engagement instrument in the Finnish dual career context

Although engagement is key to predicting burnout and dropout, few existing instruments measure this phenomenon in the sports context. As part of a larger three-year Lower Secondary Sports Schools Pilot Project (LSSSPP) Finland, we conducted two studies as present research with major aims (a) constructing Sport Engagement Instrument (SpEI) (b) validating new instrument Finnish dual career In preparatory study, an expert panel constructed SpEI, questionnaire comprising 37 items intended cognitive affective engagement. The main study utilised data collected from independent samples (n1 = 992 n2 465) lower secondary school student athletes aged 13 14 years validate SpEI. Six competing factorial structures differing numbers subsets were analysed using series confirmatory factor analyses. results indicate that 18 dispersed along four factors either first-order or one second-order described most accurately both samples. Higher levels sport correlated negatively behavioural positively dimensions engagement, which supported instrument’s validity. further validation needed, combination coach parental observations changes signs, might be useful identifying low developing subsequent interventions accordingly.