Outdoor Recreation Self-Efficacy: Scale Development and Reliability

Outdoor Recreation Self-Efficacy: Scale Development and Reliability Bandura’s theory of self-efficacy holds much promise for understanding the value of participation in outdoor recreation. This study evaluated the factor structure and internal consistency of a new outdoor recreation self-efficacy measure. Factor analysis revealed two subscales; Enjoyment/Accomplishment (61.84%) and Skills/Competence (12.71%) accounting for 74.54% of the explained variance in outdoor recreation self-efficacy. Reliabilities for the Enjoyment / Accomplishment (α=.95) and Skills/Competence (α =.94) subscales, and 17item scale (α =.96) show a high degree of internal consistency. A significant relationship exists between ORSE scores and participation in outdoor recreation (r = .52; p < .001). Results indicated having fun and enjoying oneself during outdoor recreation activities contributed more to a woman’s self-efficacy than feeling skilled or competent, confirming Bandura’s thoughts about the nature of self-efficacy. Researchers can use this instrument with confidence; it provides a reliable and valid measure for assessing the self-efficacy of women who participate in outdoor recreation activities.