Background This study aimed to adapt and validate the Turkish version of the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale (AAIS-Tr) for use among Turkish students studying at the faculty of sports sciences. Methods The sample of the study consists of students studying at the faculty of sports sciences of a university in Türkiye, selected through convenience sampling. The original AAIS was translated into Turkish, and its validity and reliability were assessed. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's Alpha coefficient and confirmatory factor analysis was used to confirm the two-factor structure obtained in exploratory factor analysis. Finally, measurement invariance was tested according to the gender of the participants to examine whether the scale was equivalent across different groups. Results The reliability analysis revealed a Cronbach Alpha coefficient of 0.95 for the overall AAIS-Tr scale, with sub-scales “Academic Identity” and “Athletic Identity” showing coefficients of 0.911 and 0.962, respectively. The CFA results indicated acceptable fit indices: χ 2 /df (2.069), GFI (0.908), IFI (0.970), TLI (0.960), CFI (0.970), RMSEA (0.091), and SRMR (0.042). Measurement invariance analysis confirmed that the scale’s item-factor structure, factor loadings, intercepts, and error variances were equivalent across male and female participants, with ∆CFI and ∆RMSEA values within acceptable limits. Conclusion The AAIS-Tr scale was found to be a valid and reliable tool for assessing academic and athletic identity among Turkish university students.
Gülgösteren et al. (Wed,) studied this question.