ABSTRACT
Background: Evidence shows that many older adults fail to meet PA recommendations for active aging. Physical literacy (PL), encompassing motivation, confidence, competence, knowledge, and responsibility for PA, correlates with increased PA in older adults. However, PL measures are predominantly achieved in developed countries with distinct environment, social support, culture, and education. Due to cultural differences in PA participation, exploring the psychometric properties of the Perceived Physical Literacy Instrument (PPLI) in Nigeria context is crucial. Purpose of the study: This study assessed the PPLI's psychometric properties (internal consistency and construct validity) in measuring perceived physical literacy in Nigerian adults aged 60 and above. Methods: In this cross-sectional study of 400 older adults aged 60 years and above [mean age = 68.3 (SD=6.7)] years) in Benin City, Edo State. The 9-item PPLI's internal consistency was assessed with Cronbach's alpha and its construct validity and factor structure using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to identify underlying dimensions in the Nigerian context. Results: The Cronbach’s alpha was 0.7356, signifying adequate consistency. CFA confirmed four items under two factors: (a) sports/fitness related to self-expression ('I am physically fit for my age,' 'I have a positive attitude toward sports,' 'I appreciate sports in myself or others,' and 'I possess self-management skills for fitness'), and (b) self-expression related to non-sports/fitness ('I possess self-evaluation skills for health,' 'I have strong social skills,' 'I handle problems well,' and 'I understand the health benefits of sports'). Conclusion: The PPLI is a moderately reliable measure to assess physical literacy in older Nigerian adults. The original instrument had three factors and nine items, but our CFA found two factors and eight items, possibly due to cultural differences in physical activity perception. Keywords: Physical literacy, physical activity, older adults, construct validity, reliability.
