Structural Validation of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale in the Current Greek Dance Context: The Role of Gender and Dance Type

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15826/csp.2026.10.1.374

Abstract

The present study aimed to validate the Greek version of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale (SPAS-7) in the current Greek dance context. Gender and dance type were also examined as factors differentiating Social Physique Anxiety (SPA). Participants were 95 male and 320 female dancers representing Greek traditional, classical ballet, contemporary, and Latin dance types. The Greek version of SPAS-7 was used to collect the research data. Statistical analyses of the data included descriptive and inferential statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), internal consistency and structural validity assessments, independent-samples t-test, and one-way ANOVA. Results revealed that: (a) the EFA identified a single factor (SPA) which accounted for 66.50% of the total variance, (b) the CFA confirmed the unidimensional structure of the scale, (c) the composite reliability and average variance extracted values demonstrated high reliability and convergent validity, (d) gender was a significant factor for SPA differentiation, with females reporting higher scores than males, and (e) participants in classical ballet showed the highest SPA levels, in contrast to participants in Greek traditional dance, who showed the lowest levels. It is concluded that the Greek version of SPAS-7 can be confidently used in research, while gender and dance type are factors differentiating SPA levels.

Author Biographies

Aikaterini Koupani, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini

Aikaterini Koupani holds a degree in Physical Education from Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a Master’s from Novisant University, and a PhD in Physical Education with a focus on Dance from the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science of the Democritus University of Thrace. She also earned a postgraduate diploma in Dance Studies from the same University, and has completed seminars in Special Education, School Psychology, and Educational Administration.

Kyriaki Emmanouilidou, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini

Kyriaki Emmanouilidou, PhD, is a member of the Special Educational Staff at the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science of the Democritus University of Thrace. Her scientific area is Physical Education Teaching, and she teaches related courses at both the undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Her research interests include teaching effectiveness, teacher education, and student and teacher assessment.

Athina Pitsi, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini

Athina Pitsi is a member of the Special Educational Staff at the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at the Democritus University of Thrace, Greece. She teaches the courses “Morphology and Technique of Greek Traditional Dance” and “Dance as a Physical Activity” at the graduate level and “Methods of teaching Greek traditional dance”, at the postgraduate level. Her research interests focus on improving the application of Mosston’s Spectrum of styles in Greek traditional dance teaching, Greek dance teacher education and the biological and psychological effects of Greek traditional dance on humans. She has scientific publications in Greek and international scientific journals focusing on the above-mentioned research interests.

Grigorios Masadis, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini

Grigorios Masadis holds a PhD in Physical Education with a focus on Elementary Education. He teaches in the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at the Democritus University of Thrace as seconded Physical Education teacher from Elementary Education specializing in the teaching of Greek Traditional Dance, Basketball, and Teaching Methods in Elementary Physical Education.

Anastasia Cheli, International Hellenic University, Thessaloniki

Anastasia Cheli graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Medical University of Sofia and is currently enrolled in the postgraduate program in Cosmetology at the International Hellenic University. Her research interests stem from her diploma thesis in Pharmacognosy, which investigated the use of methyl jasmonate as an elicitor for saponin production in in vitro root cultures of Astragalus aitosensis.

Konstantinos Filippou, University of British Columbia, Vancouver

Konstantinos Filippou holds a degree of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He is a postgraduate student at the Robert H. Lee Graduate School (Master of Management program) at the University of British Columbia, Canada. His research interests focus on research methodology, study design, and the application of advanced statistical techniques.

Zoe Mavridou, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini

Zoe Mavridou is a teacher of Physical Education in secondary school, holds a Master’s Degree in Physical Activity, Recreation and Dance, and is currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at the Democritus University of Thrace.

Filippos Filippou, Democritus University of Thrace, Komotini

Filippos Filippou teaches Greek traditional dance (both practical instruction and stage performance) at the Democritus University of Thrace, in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science. He completed his postgraduate studies at the École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales (EHESS) in Paris, in Social Anthropology. His research interests include the anthropology of dance, the theatrical presentation of Greek traditional dance, traditional dance, and media studies.

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Published
2026-04-17
How to Cite
Koupani, A., Emmanouilidou, K., Pitsi, A., Masadis, G., Cheli, A., Filippou, K., Mavridou, Z., & Filippou, F. (2026). Structural Validation of the Social Physique Anxiety Scale in the Current Greek Dance Context: The Role of Gender and Dance Type. Changing Societies & Personalities, 10(1), 70-87. doi:10.15826/csp.2026.10.1.374
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Vol. 10, No. 1 (2026)
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