Skip to main content

Table 3 Reliability results of new PAQs

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

Age Group

Reference

Test-retest period

PAQ

Variables tested

Reliability results

     

Correlation coefficients

Agreement

Youth

Dwyer (2011)[19]

1 - 2 weeks

Pre-PAQ

Level 5 min/day(Q1) – level 5

min/day(Q2)

ICC = 0.64

–

    

Level 4 min/day(Q1) – level 4 min/day(Q2)

ICC = 0.44

–

    

Level 3 min/day(Q1) – level 3 min/day(Q2)

ICC = 0.53

–

    

Levels 1–2 min/day(Q1) – levels 1–2 min/day(Q2)

ICC = 0.44

–

Youth

Economos (2010)[20]

1 - 2 hours

BONES PAS

High METs(Q1) – high METs(Q2)

Spearman r (95 % CI) = 0.57 (0.32;0.75), P < 0.001

–

    

Moderate-high METs(Q1) – moderate-high METs(Q2)

Spearman r (95 % CI) = 0.74 (0.56;0.85), P < 0.001

–

    

WBF score(Q1) – WBF score(Q2)

Spearman r (95 % CI) = 0.71 (0.51;0.83), P < 0.001

–

Youth

Martinez-Gomez (2010)[21]

1 hour

RPAR

Total MET-min(Q1) – total MET-min(Q2)

ICC = 0.87

–

Youth

Philippaerts (2006)[22]

9 days

FPACQ

Total hr/week(Q1) – total hr/week(Q2)

ICC = 0.68

κ = 0.50

    

Total EE(Q1) – total EE(Q2)

ICC = 0.80

κ = 0.53

    

Inactivity(Q1) – inactivity(Q2)

ICC = 0.83

κ = 0.61

Youth

Ridley (2001)[23]

7 days

CDPAQ

Total METs(Q1) – total METs(Q2)

ICC = 0.98 (P < 0.05)

–

    

Total min(Q1) – total min(Q2)

ICC = 0.91 (P < 0.05)

–

   

CDPAQ-HC

Total METs(Q1) – total METs(Q2)

ICC = 0.98 (P < 0.05)

–

    

Total min(Q1) – total min(Q2)

ICC = 0.96 (P < 0.05)

–

Youth

Ridley (2006)[24]

Within 24 hours

MARCA

PAL(Q1) – PAL(Q2)

ICC = 0.93

95 % LoA = −0.30 – 0.30

Youth

Telford (2004)[25]

> 14 days

CLASS-parental report

5-6 yrs: frequency(Q1) – frequency(Q2)

ICC = 0.83 (P < 0.001)

–

    

10-12 yrs: frequency(Q1) – frequency(Q2)

ICC = 0.69 (P < 0.001)

–

    

5-6 yrs: duration(Q1) – duration(Q2)

ICC = 0.76 (P < 0.001)

–

    

10-12 yrs: duration(Q1) – duration(Q2)

ICC = 0.74 (P < 0.001)

–

   

CLASS-self

10-12 yrs: frequency(Q1) – frequency(Q2)

ICC = 0.36 (P < 0.01)

–

    

10-12 yrs: duration(Q1) – duration(Q2)

ICC = 0.24

–

Youth

Treuth (2003)[26]

4 days

GAQ

Yesterday: GAQ score(Q1) – GAQ score(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.7833 (P < 0.0001)

–

    

Usual: GAQ score(Q1) – GAQ score(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.8187 (P < 0.0001)

–

    

Yesterday: TV watching(Q1) – TV watching(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.3454 (P = 0.0043)

–

    

Usual: TV watching(Q1) – TV watching(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.3827 (P = 0.0015)

–

    

Yesterday: other sedentary(Q1) – other sedentary(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.4695 (P < 0.0001)

–

    

Usual: other sedentary(Q1) – other sedentary(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.4837 (P < 0.0001)

–

  

3 days

Activitygram

Activitygram score(Q1) – activitygram score(Q2)

ICC = 0.24 (P = 0.005)

–

Youth

Treuth (2005)[27]

6 days

Fels PAQ

Girls: Fels PAQ score(Q1) – Fels PAQ score(Q2)

ICC = 0.67

–

    

Boys: Fels PAQ score(Q1) – Fels PAQ score(Q2)

ICC = 0.65

–

Youth

Welk (2007)[28]

7 days

YMCLS

Total activity(Q1) – total activity(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.60 (0.47;0.70)

–

Youth

Wong (2006)[29]

7 days

SHAPES

Combined activity(Q1) – combined activity(Q2)

–

κ (±SD) = 0.58 ± 0.17

    

Sedentary activity(Q1) – sedentary activity(Q2)

–

κ (±SD) = 0.55 ± 0.01

Adults

Ainsworth (2000)[30]

1 month

KPAS

3-point summary index(Q1) – 3-point summary index(Q2)

ICC = 0.82 (P < 0.0001)

–

    

4-point summary index(Q1) – 4-point summary index(Q2)

ICC = 0.83 (P < 0.0001)

–

Adults

Besson (2010)[31]

± 2 weeks

RPAQ

PAEE(Q1) – PAEE(Q2)

ICC = 0.76 (P < 0.001)

–

    

Sedentary time(Q1) – sedentary time(Q2)

ICC = 0.76 (P < 0.001)

–

Adults

Chasan-Taber (2004)[32]

7 days

PPAQ

Total activity(Q1) – total activity(Q2)

ICC = 0.78

–

    

Sedentary(Q1) – sedentary(Q2)

ICC = 0.79

–

Adults

Chinapaw (2009)[33]

2 weeks

AQuAA

Adolescents: AQuAA score(Q1) – AQuAA score(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.44 (0.16;0.65)

–

    

Adults: AQuAA score(Q1) – AQuAA score(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.22 (−0.04;0.46)

–

    

Adolescents: sedentary(Q1) – sedentary(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.57 (0.34;0.73)

–

    

Adults: sedentary(Q1) – sedentary(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.60 (0.40;0.74)

–

Adults

Craig (2003)[34]

3 - 7 days

IPAQ

Long form: total PA(Q1) – total PA(Q2)

Pooled Spearman r (95 % CI) = 0.81 (0.79;0.82), range: 0.46 - 0.96

–

    

Short form: total PA(Q1) – total PA(Q2)

Pooled Spearman r (95 % CI) = 0.76 (0.73;0.77), range: 0.32 - 0.88

–

Adults

Fjeldsoe (2009)[35]

7 days

AWAS

Total activity(Q1) – total activity(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.73 (0.51;0.86)

–

    

HEPA(Q1) – HEPA(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.80 (0.65;0.89)

–

    

Sitting(Q1) – sitting(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.42 (0.13;0.64)

–

Adults

Friedenreich (2006)[36]

9 weeks (average)

PYTPAQ

Total MET-hr/week(Q1) – total MET-hr/week(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.66 (0.56;0.74), Spearman r = 0.64 (P < 0.0001)

–

Adults

Kurtze (2007)[37]

7 days

HUNT2

Hard activity(Q1) – hard activity(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.17 (P < 0.01)

κ = 0.41 (0.29;0.54)

    

Occupational activity(Q1) – occupational activity(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.85 (P < 0.01)

κ = 0.80 (0.71;0.89)

    

Light activity(Q1) – light activity(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.17

κ = 0.20 (0.04;0.35)

Adults

Kurtze (2008)[38]

7 days

HUNT1

Frequency(Q1) – frequency(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.87 (P < 0.01)

κ = 0.80

    

Intensity(Q1) – intensity(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.87 (P < 0.01)

κ = 0.82

    

Duration(Q1) – duration(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.76 (P < 0.01)

κ = 0.69

Adults

Lowther (1999)[39]

2 days

SPAQ

Total min(Q1) – total min(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.998 (P < 0.01), repeatability coefficient R = 53 min.

MD (95 % LoA) = 3.09 ± 26.5 min

Adults

Mäder (2006)[40]

14 - 21 days

SHS97

Sweat episodes(Q1) – sweat episodes(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.63 (P < 0.05)

–

   

HEPA99

Active/inactive(Q1) – active/inactive(Q2)

–

κ = 0.46 (P < 005)

   

IPAQ

Total MET-min/week(Q1) – total MET-min/week(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.54 (P < 0.05)

–

    

Sitting(Q1) – sitting(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.60 (P < 0.05)

–

   

OIMQ

Total MET-min/week(Q1) – total MET-min/week(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.68 (P < 0.05)

–

Adults

Meriwether (2006)[41]

7 days

PAAT

Total min(Q1) – total min(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.618 (P < 0.001)

–

Adults

Reis (2005)[42]

2 weeks

OPAQ

Total activity(Q1) – total activity(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.76 (0.59;0.86)

–

    

Sedentary(Q1) – sedentary(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.78 (0.62;0.87)

–

Adults

Rosenberg (2010)[43]

2 weeks

SBQ

Weekday: total score(Q1) – total score(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.85 (0.75;0.91), Spearman r (95 % CI) = 0.79 (0.65;0.88)

–

    

Weekend day: total score(Q1) – total score(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.77 (0.63;0.86), Spearman r (95 % CI) = 0.74 (0.58;0.85)

–

Adults

Sobngwi (2001)[44]

10 - 15 days

SSAAQ

Total min(Q1) – total min(Q2)

Spearman r = 0.95 (P < 0.001)

–

Adults

Timperio (2003)[45]

3 days

1WPAR

Men: duration(Q1) – duration(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.45 (0.20;0.64), P < 0.001

–

    

Women: duration(Q1) – duration(Q2)

ICC (95 % CI) = 0.80 (0.69;0.87), P < 0.001

–

    

Men: sufficient PA(Q1) – sufficient PA(Q2)

–

κ = 0.64 (P < 0.001)

    

Women: sufficient PA(Q1) – sufficient PA(Q2)

–

κ = 0.55 (P < 0.001)

Adults

Wareham (2002)[46]

3 months

EPAQ2

Men: total MET-hr/week(Q1) – total MET-hr/week(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.74 (P < 0.05)

κ = 0.64

    

Women: total MET-hr/week(Q1) – total MET-hr/week(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.72 (P < 0.05)

κ = 0.70

    

Men: TV time(Q1) – TV time(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.75 (P < 0.05)

κ = 0.71

    

Women: TV time(Q1) – TV time(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.78 (P < 0.05)

κ = 0.74

Adults

Wareham (2003)[47]

18 - 21 months

EPAQ

Physical activity index(Q1) – physical activity index(Q2)

–

κ = 0.60 (P < 0.0001)

Adults

Yore (2007)[48]

1 - 5 days

BRFSS PAQ

VPA(Q1) – VPA(Q2)

–

κ (95 % CI) = 0.86 (0.72;0.99)

    

MPA(Q1) – MPA(Q2)

–

κ (95 % CI) = 0.53 (0.31;0.75)

    

Recommended PA(Q1) – recommended PA(Q2)

–

κ (95 % CI) = 0.84 (0.69;0.99)

    

Walking(Q1) – walking(Q2)

–

κ (95 % CI) = 0.56 (0.34;0.77)

    

Strengthening PA(Q1) – strengthening PA(Q2)

–

κ (95 % CI) = 0.92 (0.81;1.00)

  

10 - 19 days

BRFSS PAQ

VPA(Q1) – VPA(Q3)

–

κ (95 % CI) = 0.80 (0.65;0.95)

    

MPA(Q1) – MPA(Q3)

–

κ (95 % CI) = 0.35 (0.11;0.59)

    

Recommended PA(Q1) – recommended PA(Q3)

–

κ (95 % CI) = 0.67 (0.46;0.88)

    

Walking(Q1) – walking(Q3)

–

κ (95 % CI) = 0.34 (0.10;0.57)

    

Strengthening PA(Q1) – strengthening PA(Q3)

–

κ (95 % CI) = 0.85 (0.71;0.99)

Elderly

Yasunaga (2007)[49]

1 month

PAQ-EJ

PAQ-EJ score(Q1) – PAQ-EJ score(Q2)

Pearson r = 0.70 (P < 0.05)

–

     

Median ICC = 0.76 (youth: 0.69, adults: 0.765, elderly: –)

 
     

Median Spearman r = 0.74 (youth: 0.71, adults: 0.75, elderly: –)

 
     

Median Pearson r = 0.76 (youth: 0.80, adults: 0.74, elderly: 0.70)

 
      

Median κ = 0.64 (youth: 0.53, adults: 0.655, elderly: –)

  1. Q1 =first completed questionnaire, Q2 = second completed questionnaire, Q3 = third completed questionnaire, r = correlation coefficient (rho), ICC = Intraclass Correlation Coefficient, CI = Confidence Interval (lower;upper), %CV = coefficient of variation (within subjects standard deviation of typical error) as a percentage of the mean score, κ = kappa (i.e. Cohen weighted kappa unless specified otherwise), LoA = Limits of Agreement, MD = Mean Difference, – = not stated.
  2. NB: No calculation of weighted kappa is specified in the papers. Usually the kappa statistic is used for categorical responses and weighted kappa for ordinal responses. Interpretation of values of kappa and weighted kappa were usually based on the classification system developed by Landis and Koch (1977), where <0.10 indicated poor agreement, 0.10-0.20 slight agreement, 0.21-0.40 fair agreement, 0.41-0.60 moderate agreement, 0.61-0.80 substantial agreement, 0.81-1.00 almost perfect agreement.
  3. Ainsworth (2000): 3 point summary index = 3 domains: sports/exercise, occupation, active living habits. 4 point summary index = all 4 domains: sports/exercise, occupation, active living habits, housework/caregiving.
  4. Chinapaw (2009): AQuAA score: all activities above 2 MET in MET-min/week.
  5. Craig (2003): Pooled Spearman = pooled results from data of 22 studies examining the IPAQ long form and 23 studies examining the short form.
  6. Dwyer (2011): Levels 1–2 = stationary, level 3 = moving slowly, level 4 = moving at a medium or moderate pace, level 5 = moving at a fast pace.
  7. Economos (2010): Moderate-high METs = 3–6 METs. High METs = ≥6 METs. WBF score = weight-bearing factor score, calculated by adding the weight-bearing factor of the reported weight-bearing activities.
  8. Fjeldsoe (2009): HEPA = Health Enhancing Physical Activity: brisk walking and moderate- and vigorous activities from the planned activity and transport domains.
  9. Kurtze (2007): Light activity = no sweating or being out of breath. Hard activity = sweating/out of breath.
  10. Lowther (1999): Total min = total minutes measured in the overlapping 4 days of both questionnaires. Repeatability coefficient (twice the standard deviation of the differences) means that 95 % of the differences in SPAQ from one measurement to the next (under similar conditions) would be between zero plus or minus 53 minutes.
  11. Mäder (2006): IPAQ - Total MET-min/week = MET-min/week for total activity excluding sitting. OIMQ - Total MET-min/week = MET-min/week for total activity, i.e. moderate and vigorous activities.
  12. Philippaerts (2006): Total hrs/week = Total hours per week spent in transport and sports participation, excluding sedentary activities. Total EE = Total EE spent in transport and sports participation, excluding sedentary activities.
  13. Reis (2005): Sedentary = sitting or standing activities.
  14. Ridley (2001): CDPAQ-HC = hard copy of CDPAQ.
  15. Rosenberg (2010): Total score = all sedentary behaviors in hours per day for each item were summed separately for weekday and weekend days.
  16. Telford (2004): Reliability results for frequency/duration of overall total PA for 5 to 6 or 10 to 12 year old children in parental proxy-reports or self-administered questionnaires.
  17. Timperio (2003): Duration = duration of total physical activity. Sufficient PA was calculated as 150 minutes of combined walking, moderate- and vigorous-intensity physical activity, with reported duration of vigorous-intensity physical activity weighted by two.
  18. Treuth (2003): GAQ score = MET weighted mean score of 28 activities. Activitygram score = average intensity/min. Other sedentary = sedentary activities excluding TV watching.
  19. Treuth (2005): Fels PAQ score = total activity score; MET weighted sum of sport, leisure, work index.
  20. Wareham (2003): Physical activity index is a four-category index of inactive, moderately inactive, moderately active, active. TV time = hours per week watching television and videos.
  21. Wong (2006): Combined activity = combined score of the SHAPES derived variables which contains the variables: VPA, MPA, MVPA, screen time, PAL and BMI.
  22. Yasunaga (2007): PAQ-EJ score (MET-hr/week) = number of days*time*intensity weight.
  23. Yore (2007): MPA ≥ 30 min/day on 5 days/week. VPA ≥ 20 min/day on 3 days/week. Recommended PA, i.e. ≥ subjects who met the criteria for moderate or vigorous PA. Walking ≥ 30 min/day. Strengthening PA = any muscle-strengthening activity on ≥ 2 days/week. Kappa's are reported for the subsamples who met the criteria for the physical activity intensities.