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Association Between Questionnaire- and Accelerometer-Assessed Physical Activity: The Role of Sociodemographic Factors

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Vincent van Hees, Professor Mike TrenellORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0).


Abstract

The correlation between objective and self-reported measures of physical activity varies between studies. We examined this association and whether it differed by demographic factors or socioeconomic status (SES). Data were from 3,975 Whitehall II (United Kingdom, 2012-2013) participants aged 60-83 years, who completed a physical activity questionnaire and wore an accelerometer on their wrist for 9 days. There was a moderate correlation between questionnaire-and accelerometer-assessed physical activity (Spearman's r = 0.33, 95% confidence interval: 0.30, 0.36). The correlations were higher in high-SES groups than in low-SES groups (P's = 0.02), as defined by education (r = 0.38 vs. r = 0.30) or occupational position (r = 0.37 vs. r = 0.29), but did not differ by age, sex, or marital status. Of the self-reported physical activity, 68.3% came from mild activities, 25% from moderate activities, and only 6.7% from vigorous activities, but their correlations with accelerometer-assessed total physical activity were comparable (range of r ' s, 0.21-0.25). Self-reported physical activity from more energetic activities was more strongly associated with accelerometer data (for sports, r = 0.22; for gardening, r = 0.16; for housework, r = 0.09). High-SES persons reported more energetic activities, producing stronger accelerometer associations in these groups. Future studies should identify the aspects of physical activity that are most critical for health; this involves better understanding of the instruments being used.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Sabia S, van Hees VT, Shipley MJ, Trenell MI, Hagger-Johnson G, Elbaz A, Kivimaki M, Singh-Manoux A

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: American Journal of Epidemiology

Year: 2014

Volume: 179

Issue: 6

Pages: 781-790

Print publication date: 15/03/2014

Online publication date: 04/02/2014

Acceptance date: 04/12/2013

Date deposited: 09/06/2014

ISSN (print): 0002-9262

ISSN (electronic): 1476-6256

Publisher: Oxford University Press

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwt330

DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwt330


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
Economic and Social Research Council
British Heart Foundation
K013351Medical Research Council
R01HL036310US National Institutes of Health
R01AG013196US National Institutes of Health
R01AG034454US National Institutes of Health

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