Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Associate Professor of Sport Management, Razi University

2 Ph. D Student of Sport Management, Razi University

3 Assistant Professor of Sport Management, Razi University

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity and reliability of the Persian version of work ability index (WAI) and its relationship with the physical fitness indicators of employees in Kermanshah in a sample of 868 (250 females, 618 males) people recruited through multi-stage sampling method. The research instrument consisted of questionnaire and physical fitness tests. Validity of the questionnaire was statistically analyzed by experts, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, and its reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha. Finally, the data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and simultaneous regression model. The principal component analysis with varimax rotation identified two factors, i.e., subjective health-related work ability) 41.86% of the variance) and ill-health related work ability (19.47% of the variance) in the index construct. Results of convergent validity showed high correlation among questions of ability to work. Intraclass coefficient correlation was also high (0.72–0.81). Mean WAI index score was higher among employees with low absenteeism (40.46 points) than among those with high absenteeism (32.04 points). Reliability of the index was acceptable (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.74). Goodness-of-fit indices of second-order factor analysis confirmed the tow extracted factors and two-factor model had a superior fit compared to the one-dimensional model. Finally, multiple linear regression showed physical fitness tests were predicting factors for the work ability among employees. In conclusion, Persian version of the work ability index showed satisfactory psychometric properties among employees.

Keywords

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