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BMC Public Health
Published in: BMC Public Health 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Research article

Educational differences in the validity of self-reported physical activity

Authors: Annemarie N. E. Winckers, Joreintje D. Mackenbach, Sofie Compernolle, Mary Nicolaou, Hidde P. van der Ploeg, Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij, Johannes Brug, Jeroen Lakerveld

Published in: BMC Public Health | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

The assessment of physical activity for surveillance or population based studies is usually done with self-report questionnaires. However, bias in self-reported physical activity may be greater in lower educated than in higher educated populations. The aim of the present study is to describe educational differences in the validity of self-reported physical activity.

Methods

We included 196 healthy adults (age 57 ± 15.4, of whom 17 % low, 24 % medium and 59 % high educated). Criterion validity of an adapted International Physical Activity Questionnaire was assessed against the ActiGraph GT3X+ accelerometer.

Results

While criterion validity of self-reported physical activity was low to moderate in the total sample (Spearman rho ranged from 0.16 to 0.27, depending on the variables used), the validity in lower educated respondents was poor (-0.07 to 0.05).

Conclusions

The results confirm the hypothesis that self-report physical activity questionnaires are less valid in lower educated populations.
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Metadata
Title
Educational differences in the validity of self-reported physical activity
Authors
Annemarie N. E. Winckers
Joreintje D. Mackenbach
Sofie Compernolle
Mary Nicolaou
Hidde P. van der Ploeg
Ilse De Bourdeaudhuij
Johannes Brug
Jeroen Lakerveld
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Public Health / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2458
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2656-7

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