Comparing Multiple Measures of Physical Activity in African-American Adults

Am J Health Behav. 2019 Sep 1;43(5):877-886. doi: 10.5993/AJHB.43.5.1.

Abstract

Objectives: We assessed the agreement between self-reported and accelerometer-assessed physical activity (PA) in African-American adults by sex, education, income, and weight status. Methods: Participants (N = 274) completed the International PA Questionnaire short form (IPAQS), Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) PA questions, and PA Questionnaire (PAQ) and a 7-day accelerometer protocol using a waist-worn ActiGraph GT3X accelerometer. Interrelationships among PA measures were assessed by sociodemographics. Results: Participants consistently reported doing ≥150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) per week via self-report measures and did 113.5±179.4 minutes of accelerometer-assessed MVPA/week. Men self-reported and did more MVPA than women (p < .01). Regardless of sex, there were low correlations between self-report and accelerometer-assessed MVPA (r = .092-.190). Poor agreement existed between self-report and accelerometry for classifying participants as meeting PA recommendations (Cohen κ = .054-.136); only half of the participants were classified the same by both self-report and accelerometry. Conclusions: There was generally poor relative agreement between self-report and accelerometer-based assessments of MVPA in this sample of African-American adults. Findings suggest that self-report measures may perform better among African-American women than men, regardless of socioeconomic or weight status.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accelerometry
  • Actigraphy
  • Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
  • Black or African American / psychology
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data*
  • Body Weight
  • Educational Status
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Income
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Self Report
  • Sex Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • United States