Development and Validation of the Workplace Decisional Balance Scale for Exercise (WDBex) in a French Sample

Objective: Despite positive effects of physical activity programs in the workplace, an appropriate measurement instrument to capture employees' decisional balance to exercise is lacking. This study sought to develop and validate a decisional balance scale for exercise adapted to the workplace.

Methods: Four complementary studies were carried out, with a total sample of 2398 French volunteer employees, to develop a preliminary version and examine its dimensionality, temporal stability, and construct validity.

Results: The Workplace Decisional Balance scale for Exercise (WDBex) consists of 21 items with two subfactors, respectively composed of 12 items (facilitators) and nine items (barriers); for each subfactor, three dimensions (ie, physical, psychological, and logistic) were distinguished and presented satisfactory psychometric properties.

Conclusions: This instrument constitutes a reliable and valid instrument for studying the psychosocial determinants of physical activity engagement in the workplace and for developing health promotion strategies.