SELF-EFFICACY MOTOR SCALE: PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTIES AND THE RESULTS OF ITS APPLICATION TO THE SPANISH SCHOOL POPULATION

This study analysed the new Self-Efficacy Molar Scale (SEMS), the motor efficacy evaluation (MEE) in adolescents and its relation with variables such as general self-efficacy, speed-agility, dynamic coordination and cardiorespiratory adaptation. To do so, an ex post facto design was devised, using a sample of 1.288 adolescents (14.9 +/- 1.7 years) from six Spanish regions. The SEMS is one-dimensional with a good internal consistency (alpha=.89). Boys reported higher motor self-efficacy than girls did, regardless of age. Among girls only, the older the age, the lower the expectations of efficacy. The MEE is closely related to the general self-efficacy variable (r=.62). We conclude that the SEMS is an original, unpublished instrument that has been shown to have high reliability and sufficient validity in terms of content, construct and criteria for measuring perceived self-efficacy in challenging situations of physical activity.