Validity and Reliability of a Single Question for Leisure-Time Physical Activity Assessment in Middle-Aged Women

Purpose: To investigate the validity and test-retest reliability of a single seven-level scale physical activity assessment question (SR-PA L7) and its three-level categorization (SR-PA C3). Methods: The associations of SR-PA L7 and C3 with accelerometer-measured leisure-time physical activity (ACC-LTPA) and with the results of four different physical performance tests (6-min walk En = 733], knee extension [n = 695], vertical jump [n = 731], and grip force En = 780]) were investigated among women aged 47-55 years participating in the Estrogenic Regulation of Muscle Apoptosis study (n = 795). The reliability was studied using Spearman correlations with 4-month test-retest period (n = 152). Results: SR-PA L7 and C3 had low correlations with ACC-LTPA (r(s) = .105-.337). SR-PA L7, SR-PA C3, and ACC-LTPA explained comparable but small amount of variance of the physical performance test results. The reliability analysis provided moderate agreement (r(s)= .707 and .622 for SR-PA L7 and C3, respectively). Conclusions: SR-PA L7 and C3 demonstrated limited validity and reasonable repeatability.