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Table 1 Details of shortlisted instruments, including ratings of validity and reliability

From: An assessment of self-reported physical activity instruments in young people for population surveillance: Project ALPHA

Instrument

Validity demonstrated1

Reliability demonstrated2

Feasibility

Age range tested

Data since 1998?

Large scale survey data?

European data?

 

(quality of study score/statistical strength)

 

PA domain

Time frame

# items

Admin3

Time

    

Self-Administered Physical Activity Checklist (SAPAC)

2/2

2

# activities, MVPA minutes, PA MET score

Previous day

21 item checklist

SR

?

11 y +

✔

✘

Some

Adolescent Physical Activity Recall Questionnaire (A-PARQ)

3/1

2

Organised sport, non-organised sport

Normal week

Free response with example activities listed

SR

20 mins

13 & 15 y

✔

✘

✘

Swedish Adolescent Physical Activity Questionnaire (SwAPAQ)

2/2

0

School, transport and leisure time PA, sitting time

Last 7 d

25

SR

?

16-17 y

✔

✘

✔

Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C)

Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A)

3/2

2

MVPA, longer-than-10mins-MVPA

7 d

9

SR

20 mins

8-13 y PAQ-C; 13-20 y PAQ-A

✔

✘

✘

Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance Survey (YRBS)

3/2

2

School and leisure time PA, strength exercises, sport

Past week or year

5

SR

?

10-21 y

✔

✔

✘

Health Behaviour in School Aged Children (HBSC)

3/1/2

3

Out of school MVPA

Usual frequency & duration

2

SR

?

11-16 y

✔

✔

✔

Children's Leisure Activities Study Survey (CLASS)

2/1

1

Moderate, vigorous, & total PA

Typical week

Check-list

SR

PP

?

5-12 y

✔

✘

✘

Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire (LTEQ)

3/1

2

Strenuousmoderate and mild exercise for more than 15 minutes

7 d

4

SR (interview lead)

<5 mins

9 y +

✔

✘

✔

Seven-Day Physical Activity Recall (7D-PAR)

3/2

3

Very hard & mod PA for more than 15 mins

7 d

 

IA

?

11-16 y

✘

✘

✔

Teen Health Survey

3/2

2

MVPA (>= 3 METS)

7 d or typical week

2

SR

?

14-17 y

✔

✔

✘

Four by One-day Recall Physical Activity Questionnaire (4BY1DPAR)

2/2/3

1

PA at school, sport at school, leisure time PA, leisure time sport

24 h × 4 d

 

SR & IA

?

7-18 y

✔

✔

✔

Computerised Activity Recall (CAR)

2/2

2

All PA and SB of at least 15 min duration

Previous day

~200

SR via computer driven menu

?

10-13 y

✘

✘

✘

Children's Physical Activity Interview

3/2

0

All PA during waking hours

Previous day

Free response directed by interviewer 5 time periods

IA

18 mins

8-11 y

✘

✘

✘

Cardio-vascular Risk in Young Finns

2/2

1

Leisure time PA, sports club/competitions

Habitual

5

SR

?

3-18 y

✔

✔

✔

ACTIVITY video questionnaire

2/2

0

School day PA

1 d

10

SR (by video)

?

7-8 y

✔

✘

✘

Youth Media Campaign Longitudinal Survey (YMCLS)

3/2

2

Out-of-school activities (organised), leisure time PA

1 d & 7 d

Free response

IA (phone)

?

9-13 y

✔

✘

✘

School Health Action, Planning and Evaluation System (SHAPES) Physical Activity Questionnaire

3/3

2

All PA

7 d

45

SR

?

11-17 y

✔

✔

✘

Finnish Twin Cohort Study

2/3

3

Leisure time PA,

Habitual

2

SR

?

16-18 y

✔

✔

✔

Physical Activity and Lifestyle Questionnaire (PALQ)

3/2

3

Leisure time PA

7 d and habitual

27

SR

?

~13 y

✔

✘

✔

Physical Activity and Exercise Questionnaire (PAEQ)

2/1

0

Usual PA

Habitual

3 section s (multiple questions)

SR

?

10-15 y

✔

✔

✘

  1. 1 Validity (quality of study score): 0 = none; 1 = weak; 2 = moderate; 3 = strong. Validity (statistical strength): 1 = poor; 2 = fair; 3 = good.
  2. 2 Reliability: 0 = none; 1 = weak; 2 = moderate; 3 = strong.
  3. 3 SR: self-report; PP: parent proxy report; IA: interviewer administered