Further validation of the Health Promoting Activities Scale with mothers of typically developing children

Background/aim: The Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS) measures the frequency that mothers participate in self‐selected leisure activities that promote health and wellbeing. The scale was originally validated on mothers of school‐aged children with disabilities, and the current article extends this research using a comparative sample of mothers of typically developing school‐aged children.

Method: Australian mothers (N = 263) completed a questionnaire containing the HPAS, a measure of depression, anxiety and stress (DASS‐21) and questions concerning their weight, height, sleep quality and demographics. Statistical analysis assessed the underlying structure, internal consistency and construct validity of the HPAS. Inferential statistics were utilised to investigate the construct validity.

Results: Exploratory factor analysis supported the unidimensionality of the HPAS. It showed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.78). Significantly lower HPAS scores were recorded for women who were obese; had elevated levels of depression, anxiety and stress; had poor quality sleep or had heavy caring commitments. The mean HPAS score in this sample (M = 32.2) was significantly higher than was previously reported for women of children with a disability (M = 21.6: P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Further psychometric evaluation of the HPAS continues to support the HPAS as a sound instrument that measures the frequency that women participate in meaningful occupation that is associated with differences in mental health and wellbeing and other health indicators.