Scale Overview
The Social Provisions in the Exercise Setting – Scale (SPES) was developed by Jocelyn Dawn Watson, Kevin S. Spink, Kathleen S. Wilson, Mark W. Bruner, & Jennifer M. Bostick (2003). It is designed to measure Social provisions and support in exercise settings. The scale is intended for use with Exercising adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 24 items organized into 6 factors/subscales: Reliable Alliance, Attachment, Guidance, Opportunity for Nurturance, Social Integration, Reassurance of Worth.
| Factor / Subscale |
Items |
N |
| Reliable Alliance |
1,10,18,23 |
4 |
| Attachment |
2,11,17,21 |
4 |
| Guidance |
3,12,16,19 |
4 |
| Opportunity for Nurturance |
4,7,15,24 |
4 |
| Social Integration |
5,8,14,22 |
4 |
| Reassurance of Worth |
6,9,13,20 |
4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 4-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 4 = Strongly Agree).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Attachment (alpha = 0.80), Reliable Alliance (alpha = 0.81), Social Integration (alpha = 0.85), Opportunity for Nurturance (alpha = 0.84), Reassurance of Worth (alpha = 0.82).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 8 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.