Accuracy and Repeatability of the Yale Physical Activity Survey in Assessing Physical Activity of Older Adults

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to extend the initial evaluation of the Yale Physical Activity Survey to assess physical activity in older adults. The survey yields three indicators of physical activity reflecting activities performed during a typical week of the previous month (Total Time, Total Energy Expenditure) and the past month (Total Activity Summary Index). Questionnaire validity was studied in 56 men and women, ages 56 to 86 years, by comparing the average of 3- or 7 day 24-hr. physical activity records (n=56), predicted maximal oxygen consumption (VO2 max) (n = 23) and the sum of three skinfold measurements. Two-week repeatability was estimated by calculating an intraclass coefficient using an analysis of variance with repeated measures. Spearman rhos were used to study questionnaire validity. Analysis showed the survey was easily administered and scored and exhibited moderate-to-good repeatability. For the first administration the Total Energy Expenditure Index was significantly associated with the physical activity diary (r = .27). On the second administration, correlations were significant for the physical activity diary with the Total Energy Expenditure Index (r = .30), the Total Activity Summary Index (r = .36), and the Total Time Index (r = .27), and for VO2 max and the Total Time Index (r = .49) and Total Activity Summary Index (r = .64). Relative to the criterion measures used in this study, some validity was evident for the second administration in this relatively active and healthy sample of older adults.

Reliability and Validity of 2 Self-Report Measures to Assess Sedentary Behavior in Older Adults

“…The test-retest reliability of the YPAS-queried sitting time in the current study is slightly better than has been previously reported 31,39,40 ; likely due to a 10-day measurement period being easier to recall compared to 2-week or longer recall periods. To date, the criterion-related validity of the YPAS to measure time spent in SB in older adults using accelerometer-derived SB time as the criterion has not been investigated.…”

“…However, several studies 31,39–41 have compared this survey’s sitting index to several physical activity-related constructs, including predicted maximal oxygen consumption, anthropometric measures, cardiovascular-related measures, and total accelerometer-derived physical activity counts, to examine its construct validity. Significant correlations were found between the YPAS sitting index and diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.53, P = 0.01) 31 , weight (r = 0.20, P = 0.048) 39 , and skinfold measures (r = 0.02, P = 0.03) 40 . No studies found significant inverse correlations between the YPAS sitting index and estimated oxygen consumption or accelerometer-derived physical activity counts.…”

Reliability and Validity of the Flemish Physical Activity Computerized Questionnaire in Adults

“…This may have increased their awareness about PA probably leading to an underestimation of the reproducibility of the FPACQ (Wendel-Vos, Schuit, Saris, & Kromhout, 2003). In addition, as pointed out by Schuler, Richardson, Ochoa and Wang (2001), it is possible that the first FPACQ administration served as a form of "primer" (i.e., participants may have paid closer attention to their activities after the first administration of the survey). Therefore, the discrepancy between the first and second administration may reflect a more accurate recall on the second administration.…”

Using a single question to assess physical activity in older adults: a reliability and validity study

“…For example, correlations between summary scores from the Community Healthy Activities Model Program for Seniors (CHAMPS) Physical Activity Questionnaire and various measures of physical functioning ranged between 0.10 and 0.54 [16,18-20]. For the CHAMPS Physical Activity Questionnaire and the Yale Physical Activity Survey, test-retest reliability was evaluated over a similar interval to this study (one to two weeks), and ICCs ranged from 0.55 to 0.79 [18,19,21]. …”