title: Validity and reliability of self-assessed physical fitness using visual analogue scales.
abstract: To test the validity and reliability of self-assessed physical fitness samples included healthcare assistants working at a hospital (women=170, men=17), persons working with physically and mentally handicapped patients (women=530, men= 123), and two separate groups of healthcare students (a) women=91 and men=5 and (b) women=159 and men=10. Five components of physical fitness were self-assessed by Visual Analogue Scales with illustrations and verbal anchors for the extremes: aerobic fitness, muscle strength, endurance, flexibility, and balance. Convergent and divergent validity were evaluated by age-adjusted correlations stratified by sex with performance-based measures of physical fitness. Self-assessed aerobic fitness (r = .36 - .64) (women/men), muscle strength (r = .30 - .51), and flexibility (r = .36 - .31) showed moderate convergent validity. The divergent validity was satisfactory except for flexibility among men. The reliability was moderate to good (ICC = .62 - .80). Self-assessed aerobic fitness, muscle strength, and flexibility showed moderate construct validity and moderate to good reliability using visual analogues.
authors.affiliation: National Research Center for the Working Environment, Denmark, Lerso Parkalle 105, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark. jsa@nrcwe.dk
authors.forename: Jesper
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strøyer
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Essendrop
authors.forename: Lone Donbaek
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Warming
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Avlund
authors.forename: Bente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Schibye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007600:Judgment; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010807:Physical Endurance; D010809:Physical Fitness; D004856:Postural Balance; D012647:Self-Assessment