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.