This study was performed to test the validity and reliability of the Health Self-Determinism Index for Children(HSDI-C), an instrument designed to measure dimensions and strength of motivation in health behavior, to improve the applicability of the tool through application to the various samples. The convenient sample of 148 (boys=75, girls=72 third grade=42, fourth grade=22, fifth grade=32, sixth grade=52 : Caucasian=72, Asian=30, African=19) comprised the children at a chatholic elementary school in Chicago. The children completed English version of HSDI-C from December 5th, 1994 to January l0th, 1995. The findings were as follows : 1. Four factors of HSDI-C were isolated through the principal component analysis and oblique rotation, and explained 48% of the variance in total score. Low correlations among four factors were anticipated because each factor contributed uniquely, All items of the tool loaded above .30 on one of 4 factors. But items loaded on each factor in this study were very different from those in the previous studies. 2. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was .81 for the total items and .57∼ .81 for 4 subscales. 3. The differences of HSDI-c mean scores between boys and girls and that of among races were not statistically signifcant, but the mean score of girls and the Caucasian were relatively high. The total mean score of the scale was highest at the 3rd grade, decreased at the 4th or 5th grade, and reincreased at the 6th grade. The trend of mean score of four subscales was similar to that of total mean score. According to the results, suggested below : 1. The items loaded on each factor in this study were very different from those in the previous studies. To clear away the problem of the conceptual confusion, HSDI-C needs to be performed to various and large samples. 2. Unexpectedly, the HSDI-C mean score decreased at middle school age. A longitudinal study will be helpful to search for the change trend of the intrinsic motivation. 3. To improve the applicabilty of the HSDI-C, various reliability and validity test methods besides factor analysis or internal consistency are recommended.
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