Build and Validate Scale Of Female Elite Athletes Support In Championship Sport

The aim of this study was to design and validate the scale of support for elite athlete women in championship sport. The research method was descriptive and a survey. The population included all elite athlete women and 200 women responded to the questionnaire purposively. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to collect data. Based on the research background and a semi-structured interview with experts, in particular elite athlete women, a list of the most important variables related to the subject was provided and finalized after 46 items had been extracted. Face and content validity were examined by Cronbach's alpha and exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis was used to examine construct validity. The results of factor analysis showed that the reliability of the scale for all nine factors was between 0.73 and 0.89 using Cronbach's alpha. The results of confirmatory factor analysis showed that 46-item scale of support for elite athlete women was classified in nine factors: need for social support (7 items), financial support (6 items), job requirements (4 items), lifestyle (7 items), medical support (5 items), support for sports (5 items), academic-education support (5 items), government support (4 items), and infrastructure and facilities (3 items). The conclusion showed that social support, financial support and job requirements of elite athlete women were the most important reflectors of support for elite athlete women in championship sport.