Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale

What it measures

Measures the degree to which a person enjoys a specific bout of physical activity. Administered during or immediately after activity to capture state enjoyment. Physical activity enjoyment is a key predictor of exercise maintenance — people who enjoy exercise are more likely to continue long-term regardless of health intentions.

Response format

Bipolar adjective scale (1–7 with opposite anchors) — administered during or immediately after exercise

Representative items

• I enjoy it / I hate it
• It is fun / It is no fun
• I find it pleasurable / I find it unpleasurable
• It is very invigorating / It is not at all invigorating
• I feel as though I want to do it / I feel as though I must do it

Usage notes & scoring

Score = mean (after reverse-scoring appropriate items). Higher = more enjoyment. PACES captures affective responses to specific exercise experiences — a key predictor of long-term adherence beyond intention. Widely used in exercise prescription research.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Kendzierski, D., & DeCarlo, K.J. (1991). Physical activity enjoyment scale: Two validation studies. Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology, 13(1), 50–64.

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