Development and Validation of a New Self-Report Instrument for Measuring Sedentary Behaviors and Light-Intensity Physical Activity in Adults

Abstract

Background:
Low levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behavior (SB) are major public health concerns. This study was designed to develop and validate the 7-day Sedentary (S) and Light Intensity Physical Activity (LIPA) Log (7-day SLIPA Log), a self-report measure of specific daily behaviors.

Method:
To develop the log, 62 specific SB and LIPA behaviors were chosen from the Compendium of Physical Activities. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 32 sedentary volunteers to identify domains and behaviors of SB and LIPA. To validate the log, a further 22 sedentary adults were recruited to wear the GT3x for 7 consecutive days and nights.

Results:
Pearson correlations (r) between the 7-day SLIPA Log and GT3x were significant for sedentary (r = .86, P < .001), for LIPA (r = .80, P < .001). Lying and sitting postures were positively correlated with GT3x output (r = .60 and r = .64, P < .001, respectively). No significant correlation was found for standing posture (r = .14, P = .53).The kappa values between the 7-day SLIPA Log and GT3x variables ranged from 0.09 to 0.61, indicating poor to good agreement.

Conclusion:
The 7-day SLIPA Log is a valid self-report measure of SB and LIPA in specific behavioral domains.

Full text

Faisal A Barwais1, 2, Tom Cuddihy1, Eric Brymer1, Tracy Washington1
1Queensland University of Technology; 2Umm Al-Qura University, Saudi Arabia.
Development and Validation of a New Self-Report Instrument
for Measuring Sedentary Behaviours in Adults.
Introduction
There is much global attention directed towards levels of physical
inactivity. Not only is concern given to the lack of physical activity in
leisure time, but to people spending increasing amounts of time in
sedentary behaviours, such as watching television, using computers, and
excessive use of passive modes of transport, all of which are associated
with poor health outcomes, such as obesity, high blood glucose levels,
type 2 diabetes. Sedentary behaviour is not simply the absence of physical
activity, but involves deliberate engagement in activities that involve
minimal movement and low-energy expenditure. Accurate measurements
of sedentary behaviours in a free-living environment are now required.
Accelerometers have been widely used to assess sedentary behaviours.
Due to the labour-intensive and complex nature as well as expensive
devices required, measurement of sedentary behaviours using
accelerometers in large population studies is unreasonable; however, self-
report questionnaires are feasible and easy to administer. Through an
overview of studies related to the development and testing of sedentary
behaviour questionnaires, our general goal was to design an instrument
capable of measuring the most common and frequent total activity
behaviour domains and distinguish among sleeping, sedentary
work/studies, light-activity work/studies, home activities, sedentary at
home, and leisure-time activities. Thus, the aim of this study was to
develop and validate the Sedentary Behaviours Scale (SBS) over a 24-
hour period through the use of GT3X ActiGraph tri-axial determination
patterns among sedentary adults.
Methods
The SBS was constructed from commonly published questionnaire
measures of sedentary behaviours, via a face validity interview with 32
sedentary volunteers. Common and relevant sedentary behaviours,
activities, and domains from a number of known activities during a 24-
hour period were identified. Total Energy Expenditure (TEE) was
estimated based on METs and time spent engaged in each activity
(min/day). The ActiGraph GT3X was used to measure time in standing,
sitting, and lying. To validate the SBS, a further 22 sedentary adults (14
men and 8 women) (mean age ± SD, 26.5 ± 4.1 yr) wore GT3X
accelerometers for a period of seven (weekdays/weekend) days during
free-living activities, including sleeping. Participants completed the SBS
daily by indicating time spent within activities. Validity was assessed
using Pearson correlations and the Bland-Altman method.
Results
TEE was highly correlated between the SBS and GT3X (r = 0.75, P
=
0.001). Standing, sitting, and lying were positively correlated with GT3X
output. The Pearson correlation was (r = 0.25, r = 0.58, and r = 0.47, and
P = 0.001, respectively). Using the Bland and Altman method, the mean
difference between the SBS and GT3X for TEE was 323 Kcals (limits of
agreement (LOA) - 526 to 1173) while mean difference for standing was
1.84 hrs (LOA -2.70 to 6.34), lying was -0.30 hrs (LOA -4.56 to 3.30),
and sitting was -1.70 hrs (LOA -7.04 to 3.66). Participants using the SBS
overestimated the time spent standing and underestimated the time spent
sitting by 38.5% and -17.1%, respectively.
Group
Age
(years)
Height
(cm)
Weight
(kg)
BMI
(kg/m
2)
GT
3X Wear
Time (h)
Male
(n=
14)
26.9
±
4.3
174.43
± 6.6
86.67
± 25.9
28.35
± 7.9
22.14
± 1.3
Female
(n=
8)
25.7
±
3.9
165.75
± 5.5
67.25
± 6.20
24.50
± 2.2
22.39
± 1.3
Overall
(N=
22)
26.5
±
4.1
171.27
± 7.4
79.59
±
22.78
26.95
± 6.6
22.23
± 1.3
TABLE 1 General Subject characteristics (mean ± SD)
Figure 1- Bland–Altman plots assessing agreement between daily total
energy expenditure from the SBS and ActiGraph GT3X.
Conclusion
The SBS is an accurate measurement of a broad range of sedentary
behaviours in adults over a 24-hour period.
Standing
28%
6.47 h/day
Lying
40%
9.32 h/day
Sitting
32%
7.52 h/day
Standing
19%
4.63
h/day
Lying
42%
9.95
h/day
Sitting
39%
9.26
h/day
Figure 2- The time difference between the SBS and GT3X for
standing, sitting, and lying.
SBS GT3X