Construction and validation of a tool for assessing the perception of motor expressiveness in clinical and scientific contexts

Abstract

The present study aimed to validate the Dia.De. rev. 3 Form, an observational and self-assessment instrument designed to evaluate bodily expressiveness as an indicator of emotional and relational functioning in clinical, educational, and research contexts. Grounded in embodiment and phenomenological theories, the instrument operationalizes eight dimensions of motor expressiveness—Kinesphere, Centrality, Structuring, Rhythm, Coordination, Flow, Rigidity, and Intensity—on a five-point Likert scale.
A total of 868 participants completed the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, internal consistency, correlational analysis, and factor extraction were performed to examine the psychometric properties of the scale. The results indicate satisfactory internal reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.792) and significant positive correlations among all dimensions (p < .001), suggesting that the scale measures integrated components of motor behavior. Exploratory factor analysis (minimum residual method with Varimax rotation) identified three latent factors: Bodily Expressiveness, Shared Coordination, and Spatial Exploration. These factors correspond to theoretical domains derived from Laban’s Movement Analysis, Bernstein’s systemic theory of coordination, and the embodiment approach.
The findings confirm the theoretical coherence and empirical robustness of the Dia.De. rev. 3 Form as a reliable tool for assessing nonverbal expressiveness and monitoring psychophysical interventions. The study also discusses limitations and future directions, including cross-cultural validation, longitudinal sensitivity testing, and multimethod integration with physiological and motion-capture data.