Scale-Description

The Decisional Balance Scale: Exercise (DBSE) is a psychometric assessment tool developed to measure the decision-making balance related to exercise. This scale examines how individuals evaluate the pros and cons of exercising, which can influence their decision to start or maintain physical activity.

Data Analysis and Usage

The DBSE typically includes two main subscales:
Pros: Contains questions about the positive outcomes of exercise, such as improved fitness and mood.
Cons: Contains questions related to the negative outcomes of exercise, such as physical fatigue or lack of time.
The data collected through the DBSE can be analyzed using statistical methods to understand individuals’ attitudes toward exercise and predict the likelihood of initiating or maintaining physical activity.

Purpose

The purpose of using the DBSE is to:
Explore the motivations and barriers that influence individuals’ decisions about exercise.
Develop interventions that promote the adoption of healthy physical activity habits.
Predict individuals’ intentions to exercise by considering the relative importance they attribute to the pros and cons.

Calibration

The DBSE is typically calibrated by rating each item on a Likert scale, where participants respond to questions using a 5- or 7-point scale, ranging from “Strongly Disagree” to “Strongly Agree.” The responses are usually summarized into total scores for the two subscales (Pros and Cons). A high score on the Pros and a low score on the Cons is often associated with higher levels of physical activity.

References

Marcus, B. H., & Forsyth, L. H. (2009). Motivating People to Be Physically Active. This book covers the theories behind behavior change and the development of tools such as the DBSE.
Prochaska, J. O., & Velicer, W. F. (1997). The Transtheoretical Model of Health Behavior Change. A foundational work for understanding the stages of behavior change, on which the development of the DBSE is based.