Abstract
This study presents a critical validation contribution of the Physical Self-Description Questionnaire Short (PSDQ-S) for the Italian socio-cultural context. The original version of PSDQ was elaborated by Marsh, Richards, Johnson, Roche e Tremayne (1994). The aim of the questionnaire is to assess 11 factors related to the physical self-concept: Activity, appearance, Body Fat, Coordination, Endurance, Flexibility, Health, Sport, Strength, Global Physical, Global Esteem. The Italian PSDQ-S was obtained using 47 of the 70 items of the whole version of the PSDQ validated by Meleddu, Scalas e Guicciardi (2002), with the aim of reducing the length of the questionnaire, maintaining the same measurement properties. Participants were 951 students (548 female, 403 male) aged 11-36, attending the secondary school and university in North Eastern Italy. Statistical analysis (Cronbach’s Alpha, Exploraty Factor Analysis, Confirmatory Factor Analysis, factor analysis on the single factors, indexes assessing data fit to the model) showed a good validity and reliability of the instrument, confirming the factor structure, invariance across gender and age.