Development and validation of the inclusive sport attitudes scale for pre-service sport professionals (ISA-PS)

Bibliographic Data

ID23312366
AuthorsZsuzsanna Anti (Eötvös Loránd University, corresponding author), Katalin Kälbli (Center For Children With Special Needs), Ilona Bodnár (Independent researcher), İsmail Ilbak (0000-0002-3364-0990, Inonu University), Lilla Lendvai (Eötvös Loránd University), Judit Gombás (0000-0002-0004-3575, Center For Children With Special Needs), Mónika Szigethy (0000-0001-5508-6540, Eötvös Loránd University), Júlia Patakiné Bősze (0000-0001-9760-3198, Károli Gáspár University of the Reformed Church in Hungary), Szilvia Boros (0000-0001-7212-3067, Széchenyi István University), Gusztáv József Tornóczky (0000-0001-7418-4656, Eötvös Loránd University)
Year2026
Volume8
Pages1917186-1917186
Publication date2026-07-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Sports and Active Living (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2624-9367 • E-ISSN: 2624-9367
PublisherFrontiers Media SA (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fspor.2026.1917186
PMID42591509
OpenAlexW7171724224
LanguageEN
References cited70

Background Inclusion in sport extends beyond school-based physical education and requires the active engagement of professionals across diverse sport-related fields. Although several instruments have been developed to assess attitudes toward inclusion among physical education teachers and teacher candidates, there remains a lack of psychometrically validated measures designed for the broader population of future sport professionals. This study aimed to develop and validate the Inclusive Sport Attitudes Scale for Pre-Service Sport Professionals (ISA-PS), a theoretically grounded instrument intended for use across sport education pathways and professional contexts. Methods The instrument was developed through a multi-stage process involving a systematic review of the literature, expert evaluation, and a qualitative preliminary study with practicing sport professionals. Psychometric evaluation was conducted using data collected from two independent samples of Hungarian university students preparing for diverse sport-related professions (Study 1: n = 312; Study 2: n = 167). Results Principal component analysis identified a four-factor, 16-item structure accounting for 65.2% of the total variance, encompassing positive willingness, negative components for sport professionals, positive components for participants, and barriers to inclusion. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that a bifactor model provided the best representation of the data (CFI = 0.948, TLI = 0.930, RMSEA = 0.047, SRMR = 0.061), supporting the interpretation of both a general inclusive sport attitude factor and meaningful specific dimensions. Reliability analyses demonstrated good internal consistency for the total scale (Cronbach's α = .87; McDonald's ω = .94). Consistent with factors known to support successful inclusion, students with ongoing participation in inclusion-related coursework and those reporting repeated interactions with persons with disabilities during coursework demonstrated significantly higher attitude scores. Conclusion Together, these findings suggest that the ISA-PS broadens the assessment of inclusive sport attitudes beyond teacher education and school settings. As such, the ISA-PS represents a valid and reliable instrument for assessing inclusive sport attitudes among pre-service sport professionals from different sport-related educational programs.

Confirmatory factor analysis · Coursework · Inclusion (mineral) · Physical education · Population · Professional development · Psychometrics · Reliability (semiconductor) · Scale (ratio) · Sport Psychology · Disability Education and Employment · Inclusion and Disability in Education and Sport · Physical Education and Pedagogy