Development and Validation of the Workplace Decisional Balance Scale for Exercise (WDBex) in a French Sample.

Abstract

Despite positive effects of physical activity programs in the workplace, an appropriate measurement instrument to capture employees' decisional balance to exercise is lacking. This study sought to develop and validate a decisional balance scale for exercise adapted to the workplace. Four complementary studies were carried out, with a total sample of 2398 French volunteer employees, to develop a preliminary version and examine its dimensionality, temporal stability, and construct validity. The Workplace Decisional Balance scale for Exercise (WDBex) consists of 21 items with two subfactors, respectively composed of 12 items (facilitators) and nine items (barriers); for each subfactor, three dimensions (ie, physical, psychological, and logistic) were distinguished and presented satisfactory psychometric properties. This instrument constitutes a reliable and valid instrument for studying the psychosocial determinants of physical activity engagement in the workplace and for developing health promotion strategies.