Academic and Athletic Identity Scale (AAIS-Br): Adaptation and evidence of validity

Abstract

This study aimed to adapt and present evidence of construct, convergent, and discriminant validity of the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale for the Brazilian context. A total of 303 Brazilian university students participated in the research (M=23.33 years, SD=4.60). The sample completed a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Academic and Athletic Identity Scale, the Professional Identity Scale, and the Flourishing Scale. Confirmatory factorial analysis showed the Brazilian version of the AAIS fully reproduced the original structure of the instrument. The dimensions academic identity and athletic identity showed a significant correlation between them (r=0.205, p<0.001). The academic identity dimension also showed significant correlation with professional identity (r=0.354, p<0.001) and flourishing (r=0.269, p<0.001), while athletic identity did not show any significant correlation with professional identity and flourishing. The results showed that the psychometric properties of the AAIS-Br recommend its use in investigations to evaluate the degree of identification with academic and athletic roles in Brazilian university student-athletes.

Keywords:
identity; sport psychology; sports; higher education; psychometrics