Psychometric properties of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale–Short Form: evidence from Chinese elite athletes

• Published in: Frontiers in psychology 2023-08, Vol.14, p.1230537
• Main Authors: Hu, Jin-Chuan, Su, Ning, Huang, Yanmei, Zou, Yu-Duo, Liu, Hao, Liu, Jing-Dong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: career adaptability; elite athletes; factor structure; Psychology; reliability; validity
• ISSN: 1664-1078; 1664-1078
• DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1230537

The present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-Short Form (CAAS-SF) among a sample of Chinese elite athletes.ObjectivesThe present study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale-Short Form (CAAS-SF) among a sample of Chinese elite athletes.A sample of Chinese elite athletes (n = 770) was invited to participate in this study. First, the factor structure of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF was examined, and six measurement models (CFA, H-CFA, B-CFA, ESEM, H-ESEM, and B-ESEM) were constructed and compared. Second, the internal consistency reliability of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF was examined. Finally, structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the nomological validity of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF.MethodsA sample of Chinese elite athletes (n = 770) was invited to participate in this study. First, the factor structure of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF was examined, and six measurement models (CFA, H-CFA, B-CFA, ESEM, H-ESEM, and B-ESEM) were constructed and compared. Second, the internal consistency reliability of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF was examined. Finally, structural equation modeling (SEM) was employed to assess the nomological validity of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF.The results showed that the hierarchical ESEM (H-ESEM) model best represented the factor structure of the CAAS-SF among Chinese elite athletes. It suggests that the higher-order factor of career adaptability explains the four distinctive but interrelated specific factors of concern, control, curiosity, and confidence. Cronbach's alpha coefficients (0.84-0.90), composite reliability (0.81-0.96), and coefficient omega hierarchical (0.855-0.94) of the Chinese version of the CAAS-SF were larger than the cutoff values, which suggest satisfactory reliability. The results of the SEM revealed that the higher-order factor of career adaptability was positively associated with career decision self-efficacy (β = 0.676, p < 0.001). This result is consistent with previous findings (r = 0.65, p < 0.01) and provided support for the nomological validity of the CAAS-SF among Chinese elite athletes.ResultsThe results showed that the hierarchical ESEM (H-ESEM) model best represented the factor structure of the CAAS-SF among Chinese elite athletes. It suggests that the higher-order factor of career adaptability explains th