Abstract
This study aims to measure the level of validity and reliability of Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) in Bahasa Malaysia in measuring Malaysian youths' level of fitness. The absence of Bahasa Malaysia questionnaire in measuring the level of Malaysian youths' fitness further strengthens the study carried out. Descriptive statistics are applied to describe respondents' demographic distribution such as sex, race, height, weight and BMI. A total of 60 respondents were involved in this study, 29 of them are males (48.3%) and 31 others are females (51.7%). Reliability of PAQ-A is determined by doing test retest after 12 days. Convergent validity and criterion validity were measured by comparing PAQ-A and IPAQ as well as PAQ-A and pedometer overall pace. Pearson Correlation (r), Alpha Cronbach (α), and ICC were used to assess the degree of reliability while Spearman Correlation (rho) was used in deciding level of validity of PAQ-A. Overall correlation between first and second PAQ-A administration is r=0.719, p<0.05. Coefficient α PAQ-A was 0.836, with the value of ICC=0.718 and 95% range CI =0.569-0.822. Correlation value between PAQ-A and pedometer overall pace is low (rho=0.167, p=0.202). Meanwhile, the correlation between PAQ-A and IPAQ was high (rho=0.516, p<0.05). In conclusion, PAQ-A questionnaire has high degree of reliability and convergent validity and is acceptable in measuring Malaysian youths' fitness level but is low in measuring criterion validity level.
Highlights
The ability to measure physical activity accurately is important in research looking at quantifying physical activity behaviour
The distribution scores for Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A) were normally distributed for the first (D(60)=0.083, p=0.20) and second (D(60)=0.88, p=0.20) administrations
This study found that boys were significantly more active compared to girls in PAQ-A scores for both time-1 (t(58) = 4.21, 95%CI = 0.34 to 0.97) and time-2 (t(58) = 3.18, 95%CI = 0.19 to 0.83)
Summary
The ability to measure physical activity accurately is important in research looking at quantifying physical activity behaviour. This importance is increasing as research has showed the benefits of physical activity and the negative consequences of a sedentary lifestyle for a range of negative health outcomes [1]. Physical activity has been found to have a dose-response relationship with health status [2]. Physical activity remains an important tool in health promotion interventions. Due to the nature of human behaviour, one of the main challenges that researchers must face is measuring physical activity accurately and reliably
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