Abstract

Aim Most previous studies have used physical literacy (PL) instruments in children and adolescents, while such studies are lacking among adults. This research aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the Perceived Physical Literacy Questionnaire (PPLQ) for adults in Southeastern Europe. Subject and methods This study included 519 participants from Croatia with a mean age of 27.46 years, of whom 298 were female. Variables included sociodemographic characteristics and PL levels, which were assessed by the PPLQ translated into the Croatian language (PPLQ-SEE). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFAs) were conducted to examine the hypothesized factor structure. McDonald's omega was calculated to determine the composite reliability, and intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) were calculated to estimate the test-retest reliability (n = 122). Results The global fit of the original 24-item model showed acceptable fit indices, except for the CFI (chi(2)(247) = 640.4, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.871, RMSEA = 0.077 [90% CI 0.064-0.089], SRMR = 0.083). The revised model excluding the knowledge factor demonstrated an acceptable global fit (chi(2)(99) = 299.7, p < 0.001, CFI = 0.926, RMSEA = 0.069 [90% CI 0.060-0.078], SRMR = 0.071). All domains except the knowledge domain had acceptable composite reliability (omega = 0.63-0.85), and moderate-to-good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.62-0.89). Conclusion The results of this study indicate that the 16-item PPLQ-SEE can be used in applied research studies for assessing PL in adults when the knowledge domain of the original instrument is removed. Importantly, this questionnaire can also be used in neighboring countries with similar languages (e.g., Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro), which broadens its applicability.