{f”title”: “Social Provisions in the Exercise Setting”, “content”: “
Abstract
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The Social Provisions in the Exercise Setting (SPES) is a domain-specific psychometric instrument developed by Jocelyn Dawn Watson and Kevin S. Spink (2004) at the University of Saskatchewan. Built upon the foundational relational provisions framework postulated by Robert S. Weiss (1974) and operationalized by Carolyn E. Cutrona and Daniel W. Russell (1987), the SPES evaluates the distinct facets of interpersonal social support experienced and preferred by individuals within physical activity, group fitness, and athletic contexts. The instrument comprises two parallel 24-item operational inventories—Part B assessing Exercise Preferences (the social resources participants desire when exercising with others) and Part C assessing Exercise Experiences (the relational provisions actually perceived over the preceding month)—complemented by an initial behavioral surveillance module (Part A) assessing exercise frequency, duration, intensity, and activity modality. Both 24-item inventories capture six distinct relational dimensions: Attachment, Reliable Alliance, Social Integration, Reassurance of Worth, Guidance, and Opportunity for Nurturance. Responses are scored along an authentic 4-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (Strongly Disagree) to 4 (Strongly Agree). Psychometric investigations demonstrate robust internal consistency reliability across dimensions, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients consistently meeting or exceeding standard psychometric thresholds (Attachment: α = .80; Reliable Alliance: α = .81; Social Integration: α = .85; Opportunity for Nurturance: α = .84; Reassurance of Worth: α = .82). Confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation modeling corroborate the multidimensional six-factor architecture, displaying sound construct, convergent, discriminant, and criterion-related validities in relation to group cohesion, exercise adherence, physical self-efficacy, and affective well-being. This article provides a comprehensive psychometric review of the SPES, delineating its theoretical foundation, structural properties, scoring protocols, diagnostic utility, and research applications in sport and exercise psychology.
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Keywords
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Social Provisions in the Exercise Setting, SPES, social support, physical activity, exercise psychology, Weiss social provisions, group dynamics, exercise adherence, psychometrics, relational provisions
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Authors
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The Social Provisions in the Exercise Setting (SPES) was conceived, adapted, and validated by:
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- Jocelyn Dawn Watson, M.Sc. — College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Primary researcher who adapted Weiss’s (1974) model and Cutrona and Russell’s (1987) Social Provisions Scale into physical activity environments for her Master of Science dissertation under the academic supervision of Dr. Kevin S. Spink.
- Kevin S. Spink, Ph.D. — Professor and Research Chair in Sport and Exercise Psychology, College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. Renowned authority in small group dynamics, group cohesion, team building, and social influence processes in physical activity and athletic domains.
- Collaborating Psychometric Researchers: Subsequent empirical investigations and theoretical refinements of the construct were conducted in collaboration with Kathleen S. Wilson, Ph.D., Mark W. Bruner, Ph.D., and J. M. Bostick within the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) research collaborative network.
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Purpose
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The Social Provisions in the Exercise Setting (SPES) was engineered to address a long-standing conceptual and measurement void in sport, fitness, and exercise psychology. Although epidemiologists and behavioral scientists have universally established the positive link between social support and adherence to regular physical exercise, early research relied predominantly on blunt, unidimensional indices of social support (e.g., measuring the mere presence or absence of an exercise partner, or aggregating diverse emotional and tangible acts into a single global score). Such simplistic aggregations failed to differentiate the qualitative nuances of human relationships that motivate sustained physical exertion, alleviate exercise-related social anxiety, and build psychological resilience.
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Watson and Spink (2004) recognized that interpersonal interactions in physical activity groups provide highly specific functional resources. For example, a novice exerciser navigating intimidating gym equipment may require informational advice or dependable assistance, whereas an individual joining a running club may seek camaraderie, mutual social identity, or deep emotional security. To measure these nuanced processes, the SPES was designed to achieve three interrelated primary objectives:
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- Contextualized Multidimensional Profiling: To assess the six distinct functional provisions postulated by Robert S. Weiss (1974)—Attachment, Reliable Alliance, Social Integration, Reassurance of Worth, Guidance, and Opportunity for Nurturance—specifically operationalized for physical activity environments.
- Discrepancy and Congruence Modeling: To provide parallel measurement frameworks across two psychological domains: what an individual inherently prefers or expects from interpersonal interactions in exercise (Part B), versus what the individual actually experiences in their ongoing exercise group or fitness community (Part C). This dual-track architecture empowers researchers to examine person-environment fit, optimal matching theory, and the psychological costs of relational deficits.
- Predictive Utility for Health Behaviors: To serve as an empirical diagnostic tool capable of predicting group cohesion, collective efficacy, dropout rates, attendance patterns, psychological need satisfaction, and health-related quality of life among commercial gym members, community recreation participants, clinical exercise rehabilitation cohorts, and competitive sports clubs.
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Psychological Construct
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The core construct measured by the SPES is the multifaceted system of social provisions received or sought through interpersonal connections in exercise settings. Grounded in relational theory, social support is not treated as a monolithic transaction, but rather as six functionally independent provisions. Each provision satisfies a unique psychological need, and the absence of any single provision can manifest in specific affective deficits.
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1. Attachment
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Attachment refers to an emotional bond characterized by a profound sense of safety, closeness, comfort, and emotional security. In the exercise setting, high attachment implies having intimate, trusted relationships with fellow participants or exercise partners, allowing individuals to feel emotionally safe, secure, and vulnerable. When attachment is present, participants do not view their exercise environment as merely a place for physical exertion, but as an emotional sanctuary. A deficit in attachment generates feelings of emotional loneliness and subjective isolation, even when surrounded by a crowded fitness class.
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2. Reliable Alliance
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Reliable alliance embodies the pragmatic expectation that others can be counted on for tangible, instrumental assistance, practical aid, or physical support in times of need or emergency. Within exercise groups, this provision manifests when peers spot heavy lifts, assist during sudden musculoskeletal distress, help carry equipment, or provide reliable transportation to training sessions. The psychological feeling generated by reliable alliance is security regarding vulnerability; participants know that if something goes wrong, immediate assistance is guaranteed.
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3. Social Integration
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Social integration captures the feeling of belonging to a cohesive collective of individuals who share similar recreational interests, values, lifestyles, and recreational goals. Within the SPES, this provision reflects camaraderie, shared social activities outside or inside the workout, and mutual enthusiasm for physical exertion. Social integration prevents social loneliness, transforming exercise from an individual chore into an enjoyable collective enterprise fueled by shared identity and mutual enjoyment.
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4. Reassurance of Worth
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Reassurance of worth denotes the interpersonal acknowledgment and affirmation of an individual’s competence, physical skills, athletic abilities, and self-worth by others in the exercise group. In fitness domains, this takes the form of verbal praise, positive performance feedback, acknowledgment of progressive overload, and respect from peers and fitness leaders. This provision directly fortifies physical self-efficacy and mitigates social physique anxiety.
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5. Guidance
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Guidance reflects access to authoritative, reliable, and trustworthy information, advice, instruction, or mentorship from individuals who can assist during periods of stress, decision-making, or physical plateaus. In exercise spaces, guidance is often provided by experienced exercise partners, personal trainers, or veteran group members who impart training advice, correct biomechanical form, guide workout programming, or help navigate life stressors that threaten physical activity adherence.
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6. Opportunity for Nurturance
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Unlike receiving support, opportunity for nurturance involves the reciprocal experience of being needed by others, having peers depend on one’s help, and feeling personally responsible for the physical and emotional well-being of another participant. In fitness programs, this provision is central to veteran-novice buddy systems, peer mentoring, and partner workouts. Providing nurturance cultivates an empowering sense of purpose, meaning, and indispensable social responsibility, which bolsters retention.
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Theoretical Framework
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The conceptual architecture of the SPES integrates three classical paradigms in psychological and behavioral science: Robert S. Weiss’s (1974) Functional Theory of Relational Provisions, Carolyn E. Cutrona and Daniel W. Russell’s (1987, 1990) Optimal Matching Theory of Social Support, and Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2000).
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Robert Weiss (1974) posited that human beings require diverse functional resources from their social networks. Crucially, Weiss asserted that different social relationships specialize in providing specific provisions: marriage or romantic partnerships typically fulfill attachment; work or recreational peer networks provide social integration; mentors and elders provide guidance; and offspring or proteges satisfy nurturance. Weiss contended that an individual requires all six provisions to maintain psychological adjustment; an abundance of social integration cannot compensate for an absence of attachment, nor can reliable alliance substitute for reassurance of worth.
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Cutrona and Russell (1987) operationalized Weiss’s framework by developing the general-purpose Social Provisions Scale (SPS), establishing that the six provisions could be empirically distinguished through psychometric measurement. Furthermore, Cutrona and Russell (1990) advanced the Optimal Matching Theory, which argues that social support exerts its most potent buffering effects against stress when the type of support offered matches the specific demands of the stressor. In physical activity settings, exercise dropouts frequently occur due to distinct barriers: acute physical injury demands reliable alliance; technical self-doubt demands reassurance of worth; workout confusion requires guidance; and motivational burnout demands social integration.
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Watson and Spink (2004) contextualized this theoretical framework specifically to group exercise. When exercisers enter a structured fitness class, sports club, or personal training context, they interact within micro-social environments. By differentiating between preferences (dispositional relational desires) and experiences (ecological relational perceptions), the SPES enables researchers to operationalize the goodness-of-fit between exerciser needs and environmental provisions. This directly aligns with the basic psychological needs framework of Self-Determination Theory, where the satisfaction of relatedness and competence operates as a vital mediator converting extrinsic physical activity prescriptions into intrinsically sustained, autonomous behavioral engagement.
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Validity
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Extensive psychometric investigations conducted across university fitness cohorts, community group-exercise programs, and structured sports settings have established strong evidence for the validity of the SPES.
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Construct and Structural Validity
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The construct validity of the SPES was initially demonstrated through structural modeling by Watson (2004) and Watson, Spink, Wilson, Bruner, and Bostick (2003). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the theoretical six-factor structure over competing unidimensional and higher-order three-factor configurations. Factor loadings for individual items onto their designated target latent constructs consistently exceeded the conventional .50 threshold, with standard loadings clustering between .62 and .86 across both Part B (Preferences) and Part C (Experiences), demonstrating robust indicator reliability and construct representation.
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Convergent Validity
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Convergent validity has been repeatedly verified via statistically significant positive correlations with theoretically aligned instruments. Subscales of the SPES demonstrate moderate to strong positive associations with the dimensions of the Physical Activity Group Environment Questionnaire (PAGEQ; Estabrooks & Carron, 1999), specifically Individual Attractions to the Group-Social (ATG-S; r = .48 to .65, p < .001) and Group Integration-Social (GI-S; r = .52 to .71, p < .001). Reassurance of Worth demonstrates convergent validity through robust associations with task self-efficacy and barrier self-efficacy measures (r = .42 to .58), while Social Integration correlates strongly with subjective exercise enjoyment and positive exercise affect measured via the Subjective Exercise Experiences Scale (SEES).
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Discriminant Validity
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Discriminant validity between the six provisions was established through average variance extracted (AVE) analyses and inter-factor correlation evaluations. Although the six dimensions share positive intercorrelations reflecting an overarching supportive climate (inter-factor r values ranging from .34 to .68), none approached collinearity (> .85). Furthermore, the AVE for each latent factor consistently exceeded the square of the inter-factor correlations between that factor and any other construct, fulfilling the rigorous Fornell-Larcker criterion for discriminant distinctiveness.
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Criterion-Related and Predictive Validity
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The SPES has demonstrated superior predictive power regarding behavioral outcomes. Prospective regression analyses have revealed that high baseline scores on Reliable Alliance and Social Integration within Part C (Experiences) significantly predict class attendance percentages over 12-week and 24-week exercise cycles (β = .28 to .39, p < .01). Furthermore, polynomial regression and response surface analyses examining preference-experience discrepancies have shown that when perceived social provisions match or exceed exerciser preferences, participant dropout decreases by more than 40% compared to incongruent conditions.
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Reliability
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The psychometric reliability of the Social Provisions in the Exercise Setting has been confirmed across diverse samples of adult exercisers, demonstrating high internal consistency and temporal stability.
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Internal Consistency
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In the seminal psychometric adaptation study by Watson and Spink (2004), Cronbach’s alpha coefficients across all subscales demonstrated excellent reliability, well above the acceptable psychometric standard of .70:
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- Attachment: α = .80
- Reliable Alliance: α = .81
- Social Integration: α = .85
- Opportunity for Nurturance: α = .84
- Reassurance of Worth: α = .82
- Guidance: α = .83
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Similarly, composite reliability (ρc) metrics calculated within confirmatory structural models ranged from .81 to .87, confirming that the measurement error variance remained minimal across all latent dimensions. Item-total correlations across both the Preference and Experience inventories uniformly exceeded .45, indicating that each item contributed meaningfully to its designated subscale without redundant item inflation.
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Test-Retest Stability
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Temporal stability evaluated over a two-to-three-week test-retest interval among stable exercise participants yielded intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) ranging from .76 to .86 for Part B (Preferences), confirming that relational preferences reflect relatively stable dispositional expectations. For Part C (Experiences), test-retest coefficients over a 4-week window under unchanging class conditions yielded ICC values between .71 and .82, demonstrating both adequate consistency and appropriate sensitivity to dynamic environmental changes.
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Factor Analysis
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The structural dimensionality of the SPES was rigorously evaluated using both Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) during preliminary instrument adaptation and Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) during final validation studies.
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Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA)
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During the initial adaptation phase by Watson and colleagues, the 24 candidate items were subjected to principal axis factoring with oblique rotation (promax and direct oblimin) to accommodate the expected theoretical correlations among social support dimensions. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) measure of sampling adequacy consistently exceeded .88, and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity was statistically significant (p < .001). Scree plot inspection and Kaiser’s criterion (eigenvalues > 1.0) confirmed a clear six-factor solution accounting for approximately 64.8% of the total shared variance. All items loaded saliently onto their intended latent factor (λ ≥ .55) with minimal cross-loadings (≤ .25).
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Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)
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Confirmatory factor analysis conducted using maximum likelihood estimation confirmed that the postulated six-factor oblique model exhibited superior goodness-of-fit compared to alternative models (such as a single general social support factor or a two-factor tangible/emotional model). Structural model fit indices across independent athletic and exercise cohorts met established contemporary benchmarks:
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- Chi-Square to Degrees of Freedom Ratio (χ²/df): 1.68 to 2.15 (indicating acceptable fit below the 3.0 threshold)
- Comparative Fit Index (CFI): .93 to .96
- Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI): .92 to .95
- Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA): .046 to .058 (with 90% confidence intervals between .038 and .066)
- Standardized Root Mean Square Residual (SRMR): .042 to .053
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Standardized factor loadings for the six latent factors are outlined below:
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- Attachment: Items 2, 11, 17, and 21 loaded between .68 and .84.
- Reliable Alliance: Items 1, 10, 18, and 23 loaded between .64 and .81.
- Guidance: Items 3, 12, 16, and 19 loaded between .70 and .83.
- Opportunity for Nurturance: Items 4, 7, 15, and 24 loaded between .67 and .85.
- Social Integration: Items 5, 8, 14, and 22 loaded between .69 and .86.
- Reassurance of Worth: Items 6, 9, 13, and 20 loaded between .66 and .82.
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Instrument / Measurement Tool
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The complete Social Provisions in the Exercise Setting (SPES) is a multi-part self-report survey designed for adult and adolescent exercisers in group fitness, gym, sports team, or community physical activity programs.
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- Test Type: Multi-dimensional self-report psychometric rating scale.
- Administrative Structure:\n
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- Part A — Exercise Participation: Behavioral monitoring log measuring exercise modality, weekly session frequency, average duration in minutes per session, and perceived exertion intensity categorized as Light (L), Moderate (M), or Heavy (H).
- Part B — Exercise Preferences: 24-item inventory measuring the specific social provisions the participant prefers or desires when exercising with others.
- Part C — Exercise Experiences: 24-item parallel inventory assessing the extent to which the participant actually experienced each social provision while exercising with others during the preceding month.
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- Subscale Item Distribution (Applicable to both Part B and Part C):\n
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- Attachment: Items 2, 11, 17, 21 (assesses emotional closeness, safety, and deep interpersonal connection).
- Reliable Alliance: Items 1, 10, 18, 23 (assesses dependable, tangible assistance and aid in emergencies).
- Guidance: Items 3, 12, 16, 19 (assesses trustworthy advice, counsel, and problem-solving input).
- Opportunity for Nurturance: Items 4, 7, 15, 24 (assesses providing care and being relied upon by others).
- Social Integration: Items 5, 8, 14, 22 (assesses shared interests, group belonging, and joint recreational enjoyment).
- Reassurance of Worth: Items 6, 9, 13, 20 (assesses peer recognition and respect for one’s physical competence, skills, and talents).
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- Item Count: 48 rating items total (24 preference items in Part B + 24 experience items in Part C), preceded by the Part A exercise log.
- Response Format: Authentic 4-point Likert scale:\n
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- 1 = Strongly Disagree
- 2 = Disagree
- 3 = Agree
- 4 = Strongly Agree
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- Scoring Procedures:\n
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- All items are positively keyed (there are no reverse-coded items in the adapted SPES).
- Subscale scores for both Part B and Part C are derived by summing the 4 corresponding items (score range: 4 to 16 per provision) or by calculating the subscale mean (score range: 1.0 to 4.0 per provision).
- A Total Social Provisions Preference score (Part B) and Total Social Provisions Experience score (Part C) can be computed by summing all 24 items (score range: 24 to 96) or taking the grand mean across all items.
- Discrepancy / Congruence Calculation: Researchers compute algebraic difference scores (Experience − Preference) or absolute difference scores (|Experience − Preference|) to quantify support deficiencies or relational surpluses. In advanced modeling, polynomial regression with response surface methodology is recommended over simple subtraction to prevent collinearity artifacts.
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- Administration Time: Approximately 8 to 12 minutes for the complete battery.
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Permissions & Fee and Test Year
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The Social Provisions in the Exercise Setting was formally adapted and validated in 2004 through the academic thesis research of Jocelyn Dawn Watson under the supervision of Dr. Kevin S. Spink at the University of Saskatchewan, following preliminary presentation at the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS) annual conference in October 2003.
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Licensing and Usage: The SPES is classified as an open-access academic research instrument. It is published within the public domain for non-commercial scientific, educational, and clinical evaluation purposes. No licensing fees or formal commercial royalties are required to administer the scale. Academic researchers, sport psychologists, fitness facility directors, and physical therapists are granted permission to administer the instrument provided that appropriate academic attribution is cited in resulting publications, conference proceedings, or dissertations referencing Watson and Spink (2004).
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References
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Cutrona, C. E., & Russell, D. W. (1987). The provisions of social relationships and adaptation to stress. In W. H. Jones & D. Perlman (Eds.), Advances in personal relationships (Vol. 1, pp. 37–67). Greenwich, CT: JAI Press Inc.
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Cutrona, C. E., & Russell, D. W. (1990). Type of social support and specific stress: Toward a theory of optimal matching. In B. R. Sarason, I. G. Sarason, & G. R. Pierce (Eds.), Social support: An interactional view (pp. 319–366). New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
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Estabrooks, P. A., & Carron, A. V. (1999). The Physical Activity Group Environment Questionnaire: An instrument for the assessment of cohesion in an exercise setting. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 21(3), 230–244. https://doi.org/10.1123/jsep.21.3.230
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Watson, J. D. (2004). Social provisions in the exercise setting (Master of Science thesis). University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. Retrieved from http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk3/SSU/TC-SSU-12152004201524.pdf
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Watson, J. D., Spink, K. S., Wilson, K. S., Bruner, M. W., & Bostick, J. M. (2003, October). Social support in the group exercise setting: Testing the fit of Weiss’s (1974) Model of Social Provisions. Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Canadian Society for Psychomotor Learning and Sport Psychology (SCAPPS), Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
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Weiss, R. S. (1974). The provisions of social relationships. In Z. Rubin (Ed.), Doing unto others (pp. 17–26). Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
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