Concurrent validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire to accelerometry in Hispanic/Latino adults: The Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL)

Abstract

ObjectivesThe validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire has not been thoroughly evaluated among Hispanics/Latinos. In this cross-sectional study, we assessed the concurrent validity and correlates of discordance of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire by comparing it to accelerometry in estimating sedentary behavior, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, and meeting United States physical activity guidelines by sociodemographic, behavioral, and health characteristics. DesignThe Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos is a 4-site cohort study of United States adults aged 18–74 years enrolled from 2008 to 2011. MethodsParticipants (n = 11,873) completed the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and wore an accelerometer for 1 week. Lin's concordance and Pearson correlations were used to assess the concurrent validity between self-reported and accelerometry-assessed measures of sedentary behavior and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Kappa coefficients were used to assess agreement of meeting physical activity guidelines. Linear and logistic regression models were used to assess correlates of discordance. ResultsThe overall Lin's concordance and Pearson correlation between the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and accelerometry estimates were 0.10 (95 % confidence interval 0.09, 0.12) and 0.24 (0.21, 0.27) for sedentary behavior, and 0.04 (0.03, 0.05) and 0.18 (0.15, 0.22) for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity, respectively. Agreement was poor for meeting the physical activity guideline classifications between the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire and accelerometry (Kappa coefficients: 0.12 to 0.26). Over a 16-hour day, sedentary behavior was under-reported by 3.8 h and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity was over-reported by 1.9 h. ConclusionsThe concurrent validity of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire in measuring moderate-to-vigorous physical activity and sedentary behavior when compared to accelerometry was poor among Hispanic/Latino adults.