Validation of a Self-reported Physical Activity Questionnaire for Schoolchildren

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There is little information about validation of young children’s self-reported physical activity. This study assessed the validity of a self-reported questionnaire designed to measure children’s physical activity. METHODS: Subjects were 34 boys from 4th to 6th grade of a public elementary school. Contents of the self-reported physical activity questionnaire included participation in sports club, physical activity intensity, preference for physical activity, and frequency of physical activity. Subjects were equipped with a Lifecorder and an Actiwatch for 7 consecutive days to monitor physical activity. Physical activity index was calculated from the Lifecorder data of total energy expenditure per day (TEE) divided by basal metabolic rate. Unpaired t-test, analysis of variance, and multiple linear regression analysis were performed to clarify the relationship between the objective and subjective data. RESULTS: Subjects who reported participation in a sports club had a higher physical activity index and energy expenditure originating from physical activity than those who did not. Those characterized by a “vigorous” physical activity intensity had a higher physical activity index (1.63±0.08), when compared with peers in “moderate” (1.59±0.06) or “light” categories (1.54±0.07) (p for linear trend p<0.05). A high frequency of physical activity was significantly associated with an increasing trend in energy expenditure originating from physical activity, steps, and activity counts. Preference for physical activity was significantly related to data from the Lifecorder and the Actiwatch. CONCLUSIONS: Schoolchildren’s self-reported physical activity is in accordance with the objective data, and could be used as a valid measure to evaluate physical activity level in school settings.

Association among number, order and type of siblings and adolescent mental health at age 12

“…In that study, frequent physical activity was significantly associated with increased energy expenditure originating from physical activity, mean steps, and mean activity counts per day on the Actiwatch (P < 0.05 for a linear trend test). 21 …”

An exploratory study of after-school sedentary behaviour in elementary school-age children with intellectual disability

“…This placement has been shown to provide an accurate measure of physical activity (Baxter, Nichols, Sallis, & Calfas, 1998;Chen et al, 2003). The accelerometers were placed on the children with non-removable plastic wrist bands (similar to hospital bands) by a trained assistant at the start of school on Monday.…”

Comparison of physical activity energy expenditure in Japanese adolescents assessed by EW4800P triaxial accelerometry and the doubly labelled water method

“…Objective measurements using accelerometers are therefore required to evaluate PA (7,8) . Possible reasons for the limited data on PAL and MVPA in Japanese children are the lack of a validation * Corresponding author: K. Ishikawa-Takata, email kazu@nih.go.jp Abbreviations: ACC m , measured by accelerometry using measured RMR; ACC p , measured by accelerometry using predicted RMR; DLW, doubly labelled water; DLW m , measured by the doubly-labelled water method using measured RMR; DLW p , measured by the doubly-labelled water method using predicted RMR; TEE, total energy expenditure; MVPA, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; PA, physical activity; PAEE, physical activity energy expenditure; PAL, physical activity level; r CO 2 , rate of CO 2 production; RMR m , measured RMR; RMR p , predicted RMR; TEE, total energy expenditure.…”

“…Objective measurements using accelerometers are therefore required to evaluate PA (7,8) . Possible reasons for the limited data on PAL and MVPA in Japanese children are the lack of a validation study for accelerometry in children, and the higher cost of accelerometers compared with pedometers.…”