Author ORCID Identifier
Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2024
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
PhD
College
College of Applied Human Sciences
Department
Sport and Exercise Psychology
Committee Chair
Sam Zizzi
Committee Co-Chair
Johannes Raabe
Committee Member
Jeanette Garcia
Committee Member
William Hornsby
Abstract
Understanding the psychological and physical readiness of future military leaders is crucial for improving recruitment and retention. The U.S. Army faces increasing obesity rates and declining physical fitness among recruits, reducing the pool of eligible candidates and raising costs. The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), which commissions 59% of officers, has higher attrition rates than other sources, underscoring the need to identify psychological predictors of performance. This dissertation examines the psychometric properties of psychological instruments used to assess ROTC cadets and their relationship with Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT) performance. Two research questions were explored: (1) What are the psychometric properties of instruments measuring the psychological characteristics of ROTC cadets? (2) What psychological characteristics are associated with ACFT performance? A sample of 180 cadets completed assessments, including the Academic Motivation Scale – Revised (AMS-R), Academic Motivation Scale – College (AMS-C), Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction and Frustration Scale (BPNSFS), Cognitive and Somatic Anxiety Inventory – 2 Revised (CSAI-2R), and Resilience Scale (RS). Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) indicated acceptable reliability and validity for most instruments, with strong model fit for CSAI-2R (CFI = 1.00, TLI = 0.99, α = 0.94) and AMS-C (CFI = 0.95, TLI = 0.95, α = 0.94). Regression analyses identified resilience (β = 0.21, p < 0.05) as a significant predictor of hand-release push-up scores, while self-confidence (β = 0.33, p < 0.05) predicted two-mile run performance. Cognitive anxiety was positively associated with the two-mile run (β = 0.31, p < 0.05), suggesting moderate anxiety may enhance focus. Academic identified regulation and intrinsic motivation were also significant predictors. This study provides insights into the psychometric properties of thirteen instruments among ROTC cadets and elucidates how psychological traits affect ROTC performance. These findings support integrating psychological assessments into training and selection processes to improve cadet identification, training, retention, and cost efficiency. Future research should validate these results in larger, diverse samples and use longitudinal designs to explore long-term impacts.
Recommended Citation
Sapinsley, Ari Joseph, "From Measurement to Performance: Psychometric Validity and Psychological Predictors of Reserve Officer Training Corps Cadets’ Performance on the Army Combat Fitness Test" (2024). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 12672.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12672
