A systematic review of reliability and objective criterion-related validity of physical activity questionnaires

Abstract

Physical inactivity is one of the four leading risk factors for global mortality. Accurate measurement of physical activity (PA) and in particular by physical activity questionnaires (PAQs) remains a challenge. The aim of this paper is to provide an updated systematic review of the reliability and validity characteristics of existing and more recently developed PAQs and to quantitatively compare the performance between existing and newly developed PAQs.A literature search of electronic databases was performed for studies assessing reliability and validity data of PAQs using an objective criterion measurement of PA between January 1997 and December 2011. Articles meeting the inclusion criteria were screened and data were extracted to provide a systematic overview of measurement properties. Due to differences in reported outcomes and criterion methods a quantitative meta-analysis was not possible.In total, 31 studies testing 34 newly developed PAQs, and 65 studies examining 96 existing PAQs were included. Very few PAQs showed good results on both reliability and validity. Median reliability correlation coefficients were 0.62–0.71 for existing, and 0.74–0.76 for new PAQs. Median validity coefficients ranged from 0.30–0.39 for existing, and from 0.25–0.41 for new PAQs.Although the majority of PAQs appear to have acceptable reliability, the validity is moderate at best. Newly developed PAQs do not appear to perform substantially better than existing PAQs in terms of reliability and validity. Future PAQ studies should include measures of absolute validity and the error structure of the instrument.

Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Relative to Body Mass Index among School Children in Saudi Arabia

“…[32][33][34] and objectively (pedometers and accelerometers) [35][36][37]. Questionnaires are feasible method of obtaining physical activity among children with relative ease, cost effective and noninvasive manner in large population.…”

Convergent Validity of a Physical Activity Questionnaire against Objectively Measured Physical Activity in Adults: The Cardiovascular Risk in Young Finns Study

“…Step variables ranged from r = 0.20 to 0.30 (total steps) and r = 0.20 to 0.44 (aerobic steps), similar to what has typically been reported for such questionnaires (Boon et al, 2010;Helmerhorst et al, 2012). In the review by Helmerhorst et al (2012), the median validity correlation coefficient was r = 0.25 -0.41 for the PA questionnaires.…”

“…Correlation coefficients range from 0.30 to 0.39 for existing questionnaires and from 0.25 to 0.41 for new ones (Helmerhorst et al, 2012). A validity study was performed for both the New Zealand Physical Activity Questionnaire and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire.…”

“…At the same time, it is important not to dismiss the rich contextual information provided by questionnaires (Tudor-Locke et al, 2002). Objective measures are increasingly being used to determine the reliability and validity of different PA measurements obtained from various PA questionnaires and when making comparisons between them (Boon, Hamlin, Steel, & Ross, 2010;Helmerhorst, Brage, Warren, Besson, & Ekelund, 2012).…”

“…In a comprehensive review by Helmerhorst et al (2012), PA questionnaires were validated with the use of objective measures. It was concluded that self-reported questionnaires remain an important research method in large-scale studies.…”