Adolescents’ Self-Efficacy to Overcome Barriers to Physical Activity Scale: Brazilian cross-cultural validity

Abstract This study aims to adapt, analyze the internal structure, and evaluate construct validity regarding the Brazilian version of the Adolescents´ Self-efficacy to Overcome Barriers to Physical Activity Scale (SOBPAS-Br). Two independent translators translated the original scale, which was then back-translated into English by two other translators. The preliminary version was assessed by three experts and eleven adolescents, who provided content validity. The last version was answered by 348 students, 14 to 18 years of age (M = 16.1; SD = 1.2), from two campi of a federal public school in Rio de Janeiro. Exploratory factor analysis using FACTOR software revealed a bidimensional structure (personal dimension; socio-structural dimension), presenting good fit indexes, internal consistency reliability, factor replicability, item discrimination adequacy and sound validity based on relations to external variables. Thus, SOBPAS-Br is reliable and valid to be used in Brazilian cultural context.