Revisiting the Measurement of Exercise-Induced Feeling States: The Physical Activity Affect Scale (PAAS)

Interest in acute exercise-induced feeling states has intensified in recent years, signaling the need for development of domain-specific measures of these constructs. In response to this call, 2 exercise-specific measures of feeling states have been introduced-namely, the Exercise-Induced Feeling Inventory (EFI; Gauvin McAuley & Courneya, 1994). Although certain subscales of the 2 instruments are unique, a number of similar constructs exist both within and between instruments. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to (a) combine the EFI and SEES scales into a single, more encompassing instrument and (b) investigate potential factor redundancy within and between the 2 instruments. Initial correlational analyses indicated that the Positive Well-Being subscale of the SEES and the revitalization and Positive Engagement subscales of the EFI were highly correlated. Similar results were obtained for the Fatigue (SEES) and Physical Exhaustion (EFI) subscales. These findings provided the impetus for the construction of the Physical Activity Affect Scale (PAAS), an instrument consisting of the Psychological Distress subscale of the SEES and the subscales of the EFI. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses demonstrated support for 4 components of exercise-induced affect that were subsequently labeled positive affect, negative affect, fatigue, and tranquility. The PAAS appears to be an improvement over the EFI and SEES in that it is a more encompassing measure of exercise-induced feeling states with less component redundancy than its predecessors.