Public perceptions on elite sport’s societal outcomes: A validated scale in a European context

Studies have demonstrated the potential positive (e.g., inclusion) and
negative (e.g., pollution) outcomes that elite sport has on society. Over the
years, the interest in measuring these societal outcomes has grown. This
research extends previous studies that emphasize the need for a validated
scale to accurately measure public perceptions of elite sport’s outcomes on
society. The purpose of this study was to validate the Mapping Elite Sport’s
potential Societal Impact (MESSI) scale in a European context. Using a
quantitative research design, the MESSI scale was administered to 10,400
European citizens from seven countries (i.e., Belgium, Czech Republic,
Finland, France, The Netherlands, Poland, and Portugal). Confirmatory
factor analysis was conducted to assess the validity and reliability of the
measurement instrument. Results indicated a psychometrically acceptable
68-item 10-dimension MESSI scale. The European population perceived
more positive than negative potential societal outcomes of elite sport.
The study confirms that the MESSI scale is a valid, reliable, and robust
instrument for measuring the perceptions of the potential positive and
negative societal outcomes of elite sport. The use of this scale might provide
valuable insights for sport policymakers.