This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (31)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Adolescent Medicine  • Primary Care/ Family Medicine  • Exercise  • Alert me on articles by topic  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Judith J. Prochaska, MS; James F. Sallis, PhD; Barbara Long, MD, MPH

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155:554-559.

Objective  To develop a reliable and valid physical activity screening measure for use with adolescents in primary care settings.

Study Design  We conducted 2 studies to evaluate the test-retest reliability and concurrent validity of 6 single-item and 3 composite measures of physical activity. Modifications were based on the findings of the 2 studies, and a best measure was evaluated in study 3. Accelerometer data served as the criterion standard for tests of validity.

Results  In study 1 (N = 250; mean age, 15 years; 56% female; 36% white), reports on the composite measures were most reliable. In study 2 (N = 57; mean age, 14 years; 65% female; 37% white), 6 of the 9 screening measures correlated significantly with accelerometer data. Subjects, however, had great difficulty reporting bouts of activity and distinguishing between intensity levels. Instead, we developed a single measure assessing accumulation of 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity. Evaluated in study 3 (N = 148; mean age, 12 years; 65% female; 27% white), the measure was reliable (intraclass correlation, 0.77) and correlated significantly (r = 0.40, P<.001) with accelerometer data. Correct classification (63%), sensitivity (71%), and false-positive rates (40%) were reasonable.

Conclusion  The "moderate to vigorous physical activity" screening measure is recommended for clinical practice with adolescents.

From the Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology at San Diego State University and University of California, San Diego (Ms Prochaska); Department of Psychology, San Diego State University (Dr Sallis); and Division of Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (Dr Long).

Corresponding author: Judith J. Prochaska, MS, San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado Ct, Suite 250, San Diego, CA 92120 (e-mail: prochask{at}sunstroke.sdsu.edu).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati     What's this?

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Relationship between screen time and metabolic syndrome in adolescents
Mark and Janssen
J Public Health (Oxf) 2008;30:153-160.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Assessment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity
Krebs et al.
Pediatrics 2007;120:S193-S228.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviour among Australian secondary students in 2005
Scully et al.
HEALTH PROMOT INT 2007;22:236-245.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Peer Victimization, Psychosocial Adjustment, and Physical Activity in Overweight and At-Risk-For-Overweight Youth
Storch et al.
J Pediatr Psychol 2007;32:80-89.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Associations between risk behavior and injury and the protective roles of social environments: an analysis of 7235 Canadian school children.
Pickett et al.
Inj. Prev. 2006;12:87-92.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Influence of individual- and area-level measures of socioeconomic status on obesity, unhealthy eating, and physical inactivity in Canadian adolescents
Janssen et al.
Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 2006;83:139-145.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Cross national study of injury and social determinants in adolescents
Pickett et al.
Inj. Prev. 2005;11:213-218.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Practical and Relevant Self-Report Measures of Patient Health Behaviors for Primary Care Research
Glasgow et al.
Ann Fam Med 2005;3:73-81.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT