Can the bias of self-reported sitting time be corrected? A statistical model validation study based on data from 23 993 adults in the Norwegian HUNT study

Kongsvold, Atle; Flaaten, Mats; Logacjov, Aleksej; Skarpsno, Eivind Schjelderup; Bach, Kerstin; Nilsen, Tom Ivar Lund; Mork, Paul Jarle

doi:10.1186/s12966-023-01541-y

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Table 3 Mean device-measured sitting time and mean difference between self-reported vs. device-measured sitting time, according to sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related factors. The category with the smallest mean difference between the measurement methods within each candidate variable was used as reference

From: Can the bias of self-reported sitting time be corrected? A statistical model validation study based on data from 23 993 adults in the Norwegian HUNT study

	No. of people	Mean device-measured sitting time (min)	Mean difference^a	Mean group difference (CI 95%)
	No. of people	Mean device-measured sitting time (min)	Mean difference^a	Crude model	Model including age	Full model^b
Sex
Women	13 256	502	-107	Ref.	Ref.	Ref.
Men	10 737	529	-110	-3 (-8 to 2)	6 (2 to 11)	7 (2 to 11)
Age category
19–39 years	5 827	459	-39	Ref.	NA	Ref.
40–59 years	9 277	516	-103	-65 (-70 to -59)		-73 (-79 to -68)
≥ 60 years	8 889	547	-159	-121 (-126 to -115)		-122 (-129 to -115)
Body mass index
Normal weight (< 24.9 kg/m²)	8 466	485	-88	Ref.	Ref.	Ref.
Overweight (25-29.9 kg/m²)	10 245	519	-115	-27 (-32 to -22)	-10 (-15 to -5)	-11 (-16 to -6)
Obese (≥ 30 kg/m²)	5 282	551	-127	-39 (-46 to -33)	-26 (-32 to -20)	-26 (-32 to -20)
Educational level
University	10 974	522	-83	Ref.	Ref.	Ref.
High school	2 943	496	-84	-1 (-8 to 7)	-13 (-20 to -6)	3 (-4 to 10)
Trade certificate	5 021	497	-135	-51 (-57 to -45)	-49 (-55 to -43)	-19 (-25 to -13)
Primary school	5 055	523	-150	-67 (-73 to -61)	-33 (-39 to -27)	-9 (-15 to -3)
Physical work demands
Mostly sedentary	5 904	573	-14	Ref.	Ref.	Ref.
Walking	4 918	477	-131	-116 (-123 to -109)	-121 (-128 to -115)	-119 (-125 to -112)
Walking and lifting	4 323	448	-138	-124 (-130 to -117)	-137 (-144 to -131)	-132 (-139 to -125)
Heavy labor	923	436	-153	-139 (-151 to -126)	-149 (-161 to -137)	-143 (-155 to -131)
Not working	7 925	537	-143	-128 (-134 to -123)	-70 (-76 to -64)	-70 (-76 to -64)
LTC^c
None	9 137	506	-102	Ref.	Ref.	Ref.
One	7 679	510	-104	-2 (-8 to -3)	6 (1 to 12)	9 (4 to 14)
Two or more	7 177	527	-121	-20 (-26 to -14)	4 (-1 to 10)	11 (6 to 17)
Physical activity
Active^d	12 889	508	-106	Ref.	Ref.	Ref.
Inactive	11 104	521	-111	-6 (-11 to -1)	-8 (-12 to -3)	0 (-5 to 4)

Abbreviations: CI confidence interval; NA, not applicable; LTC long term health conditions
^aMean difference between self-reported and device-measured sitting time. Negative values indicate an underestimation of self-reported sitting time compared to device-measured sitting time
^bIncluding all variables
^cAngina; heart attack; heart failure; atrial fibrillation; stroke; asthma; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; type 2 diabetes type; hypothyroidism; hyperthyroidism; cancer; migraine; psoriasis; kidney disease; rheumatoid arthritis; ankylosing spondylitis; gout; mental health problems; and chronic musculoskeletal pain
^dAt least 150 min moderate intensity exercise or at least 75 min vigorous intensity exercise per week

Back to article page

ISSN: 1479-5868

Contact us

Submission enquiries: Access here and click Contact Us
General enquiries: info@biomedcentral.com