Assessing dual career identity: Validation of the Spanish academic and athletic identity scale

This study presents the translation, cultural adaptation, and psychometric validation of the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale (AAIS) for Spanish-speaking student-athletes. A total of 398 participants completed the AAIS-Spanish version and sociodemographic questions. Confirmatory factor analysis supported a two-factor structure, consistent with the original instrument, after allowing for theoretically justified error covariances. Both subscales showed strong internal consistency, and evidence of measurement invariance by gender was established. Structural equation modeling demonstrated concurrent validity, with academic identity predicting study time and athletic identity predicting sport practice. The findings support the validity of the AAIS Spanish as an instrument for assessing dual career identity. The scale provides researchers and practitioners with a robust tool for supporting student-athlete development in Spanish-speaking contexts.