• The SCI Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES) is a scale developed to measure a person with SCI’s beliefs or confidence that they can perform various physical activities and exercise (on a scale of 1-4).

Clinical Considerations

  • Self-efficacy is the belief individuals have in their ability to perform certain behaviours to achieve desired outcomes. The ESES measures the subject’s perceived exercise self-efficacy beliefs. Evidence suggests that the adoption of and adherence to regular exercise is influenced by self-efficacy to perform physical activity. Consequently, this scale was developed to address the lack of an exercise self-efficacy tool for people with SCI.
  • The ESES was developed specifically for the SCI population based on expert comments and interviews with individuals with SCI. Therefore, it should represent the physical activity and exercise self-efficacy issues of this unique population.

ICF Domain

Body Function ▶ General Functions

Administration

  • Self-report, pen and paper format
  • Requires individuals to respond to items on a 4-point Likert scale (1-not at all true, 4-always true)
  • Exercise activity is based on the response to a dichotomous item that specifies whether respondents have exercised ‘at home and/or gym’ vs. ‘no exercise’
  • Takes approximately 5 min to administer

Number of Items

10

Equipment

None

Scoring

The total score is derived by summing the scores for the individual items; possible scores range from 10 to 40.

Languages

English. Dutch, and Brazilian-Portuguese.

Training Required

None

Availability

The SCI Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale worksheet can be found here.

# of studies reporting psychometric properties: 3

Interpretability

  • Higher scores indicate greater perceived self-efficacy
  • The dichotomous item is used to estimate the subject’s average exercise activity

MCID: not established in SCI
SEM: not established in SCI
MDC: not established in SCI

Typical Values

  • Item 1: 3.2582 (.8027)
  • Item 2: 3.3533 (.8450)
  • Item 3: 3.1739 (.8268)
  • Item 4: 3.1359 (.8073)
  • Item 5: 2.8152 (.8881)
  • Item 6: 2.9918 (.9116)
  • Item 7: 3.2092 (.9666)
  • Item 8: 3.2989 (.9470)
  • Item 9: 3.2880 (.8912)
  • Item 10: 3.2446 (.9367)

(Kroll et al. 2007; n=368, 221 males, mixed injury types, no information on chronicity)

Reliability

  • Internal consistency of the ESES scale is High
    (α = 0.81 – 0.93).

(Kroll et al. 2007; N=368; 221 males)
(Fliess-Douer et al. 2013; N=79; 49 males; mean age: 33 years; 64 paraplegia, 15 tetraplegia; 46 complete, 25 incomplete)

  • Test-retest reliability is High
     (ICC = 0.81).

(Nooijen et al. 2013; N=53; 44 males; Dutch version of ESES; 33 paraplegia, 20 tetraplegia; 34 complete, 19 incomplete; mean (SD) time since injury: 107.2 (122.3) months)

Validity

  • Low correlation with the Generalised Self Efficacy Scale (GSE):
    r = 0.316

(Kroll et al. 2007; N=53; 31 males)

  • Moderate correlation with the revised Self-Efficacy in Wheeled Mobility scale (SEWM):
    r=0.64,p<0.05

(Fliess-Douer et al. 2013; N=79; 49 males; mean age: 33 years; 64 paraplegia, 15 tetraplegia; 46 complete, 25 incomplete)

  • High correlation with SF-36 Questionnaire and FIM domains
    r = 0.708

(Pisconti et al. 2017; N=10; 8 males, 2 females; mean age = 42.72; 5 cervical and 5 thoracolumbar; Brazilian version)

Responsiveness

No values were reported for the responsiveness of the ESES scale for the SCI population.

Floor/ceiling effect

Neither was noted, but distribution is negatively skewed.

(Nooijen et al. 2013; N=53; 44 males; Dutch version of ESES; 33 paraplegia, 20 tetraplegia; 34 complete, 19 incomplete; mean (SD) time since injury: 107.2 (122.3) months)

Reviewers

Dr. William Miller, Dr. Carlos L. Cano-Herrera, Tyra Chu, Frances Fan.

Date Last Updated

31 December 2024

Fliess-douer O, Vanlandewijck YC, Van der woude LH. Reliability and validity of perceived self-efficacy in wheeled mobility scale among elite wheelchair-dependent athletes with a spinal cord injury. Disabil Rehabil. 2013;35(10):851-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22931383

Kroll T, Kehn M, Ho PS, Groah S. The SCI exercise self-efficacy scale (ESES): development and psychometric properties. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2007, 4:34.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17760999

Nooijen CF, Post MW, Spijkerman DC, Bergen MP, Stam HJ, Van den berg-emons RJ. Exercise self-efficacy in persons with spinal cord injury: psychometric properties of the Dutch translation of the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale. J Rehabil Med. 2013;45(4):347-50.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23474694

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