The purpose of this study was to analyze the item response theory-based measurement characteristics of the sense of community and exercise adherence intention scales among adult club league participants, and to examine the effect of sense of community...
The purpose of this study was to analyze the item response theory-based measurement characteristics of the sense of community and exercise adherence intention scales among adult club league participants, and to examine the effect of sense of community on exercise adherence intention and structural path differences according to background variables. Data were collected from 500 adult club league participants, and 10 items measuring sense of community and 6 items measuring exercise adherence intention were used for the analysis. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, categorical confirmatory factor analysis, graded response model-based item response theory analysis, simple regression analysis, and multi-group analysis were conducted.
The results were as follows. First, the Cronbach’s α values of the sense of community and exercise adherence intention scales were .928 and .922, respectively, indicating stable internal consistency. Second, the categorical confirmatory factor analysis showed that the two-factor measurement model demonstrated an acceptable model fit, with CFI=.981, TLI=.977, RMSEA=.069, and SRMR=.044. Third, the item response theory analysis indicated that the items of both scales generally showed high discrimination; however, some items required further refinement in terms of item fit and response category functioning. The test information function also showed that both scales provided more information at relatively lower levels of the latent traits. Fourth, sense of community had a significant positive effect on exercise adherence intention. Fifth, the multi-group analysis by gender, club league participation period, and number of league game participations in the current season showed that the path from sense of community to exercise adherence intention was significant in all groups, but the structural path differences between groups were not statistically significant.
Taken together, the findings suggest that the sense of community and exercise adherence intention scales can be generally used as measurement tools for adult club league participants, although some items and the measurement precision across latent trait levels require further refinement. In addition, sense of community was identified as an important socio-psychological variable explaining exercise adherence intention among adult club league participants. Therefore, club league management should consider strategies to strengthen participants’ sense of community, including intimacy, trust, mutual support, and group belonging within teams and leagues, in order to promote continued participation.