Validity of self-reported leisure-time sedentary behavior in adolescents.

Olivia Affuso,June Stevens,Diane Catellier,Leslie Lytle,Melinda S Sothern,Robert G Mcmurray,Deborah R Young,Dianne S Ward

doi:10.1186/1477-5751-10-2

Abstract

BackgroundTo evaluate the concordance between leisure-time sedentary behavior in adolescents assessed by an activity-based questionnaire and accelerometry.A convenience sample of 128 girls and 73 boys, 11-15 years of age (12.6 ± 1.1 years) from six states across the United States examined as part of the feasibility studies for the Trial of Activity in Adolescent Girls (TAAG). Three days of self-reported time spent watching TV/videos, using computers, playing video/computer games, and talking on the phone was assessed using a modified version of the Self-Administered Physical Activity Checklist (SAPAC). Criterion measure of sedentary behavior was via accelerometry over three days using a cut point of < 50 counts · 30 sec-1 epoch. Comparisons between sedentary behavior by the two instruments were made.ResultsAdolescents generally underestimated minutes of sedentary behavior compared to accelerometry-measured minutes. The overall correlation between minutes of sedentary behavior by self-report and accelerometry was weak (Spearman r = 0.14; 95% CI 0.05, 0.23). Adjustment of sedentary minutes of behavior for total minutes assessed using either percentages or the residuals method tended to increase correlations slightly. However, regression analyses showed no significant association between self-reported sedentary behavior and minutes of sedentary behavior captured via accelerometry.DiscussionThese findings suggest that the modified 3-day Self-Administered Physical Activity Checklist is not a reliable method for assessing sedentary behavior. It is recommended that until validation studies for self-report instruments of sedentary behavior demonstrate validity, objective measures should be used.

Highlights

To evaluate the concordance between leisure-time sedentary behavior in adolescents assessed by an activity-based questionnaire and accelerometry
Recent studies have examined the use of accelerometry to assess sedentary behavior in controlled conditions and provided population specific accelerometry cut points to indicate a valid measure of sedentary behavior in children [2,3]
Klesges et al (2004) found that the overestimation of self-reported physical activity was positively associated with social desirability among 8 to 10 year old African American girls

Summary

Introduction

To evaluate the concordance between leisure-time sedentary behavior in adolescents assessed by an activity-based questionnaire and accelerometry. One of the limitations of self-report behavioral questionnaires is response bias where respondents may intentionally provide incorrect answers to a survey due to pressures to respond in a socially acceptable manner [5,6,7]. Among 10 to 14 year old boys, social desirability was negatively associated with self-reported sedentary behavior (r = -0.158; p < 0.001). The association between weight status and self-reported sedentary behavior has not been examined in youth. We hypothesized that weight status and sex would influence reporting of sedentary behaviors among adolescents trying to avoid social criticism in a similar manner to that of adults, and affect the validity of self-reported sedentary measures

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