Factorial and predictive validity of the Belgian (Dutch) Athlete version of the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q)

Anne-Line Balduck *, Sophia Jowett ** and Marc Buelens ***

(*) Department of Movement and Sport Sciences, Ghent University, Belgium
(**) School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Loughborough University, UK
(***) Department of People and Organisation,Vlerick Leuven Ghent Management School, Belgium

Citation

Balduck, A., Jowett, S., Buelens, M. (2011). Factorial and predictive validity of the Belgian (Dutch) Athlete version of the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q). International Journal of Sport Psychology, 42(2), 204-226.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Coach-Athlete Relationship Questionnaire (CART-Q), an instrument that was originally developed and validated for British athletes (Jowett & Ntoumanis, 2004), with a sample of Belgian, Dutch speaking athletes. The CART-Q was designed to measure Closeness, Commitment, and Complementarity (3Cs). Study 1 focused on assessing the factorial validity of the 11-item CART-Q with a sample of 401 Belgian, Dutch speaking athletes employing Confirmatory Factory Analysis (CFA). Analysis pointed to a three-dimensional factor structure with satisfactory internal consistency scores. Study 2 cross-validated the factorial structure of the 11- item CART-Q with an independent sample of 400 Belgian, Dutch speaking athletes and examined its predictive validity. The three-dimensional factor structure was upheld with satisfactory internal consistency scores. The predictive validity of the Belgian CART-Q was demonstrated when the 3Cs of the CART-Q were associated with satisfaction variables in a conceptually coherent manner. Overall, results supported the multidimensional nature of the coach-athlete relationship with Belgian athletes, as reflected in the 3Cs.

Keywords: CART-Q, Belgium, Factorial, Predictive validity, Reliability