title: Influence of allowable interruption period on estimates of accelerometer wear time and sedentary time in older adults.
abstract: The criteria one uses to reduce accelerometer data can profoundly influence the interpretation of research outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of 3 different interruption periods (i.e., 20, 30, and 60 min) on the amount of data retained for analyses and estimates of sedentary time among older adults. Older adults (N = 311, M age = 71.1) wore an accelerometer for 7 d and reported wear time on an accelerometer log. Accelerometer data were downloaded and scored using 20-, 30-, and 60-min interruption periods. Estimates of wear time, derived using each interruption period, were compared with self-reported wear time, and descriptive statistics were used to compare estimates of sedentary time. Results showed a longer interruption period (i.e., 60 min) yields the largest sample size and the closest approximation of self-reported wear time. A short interruption period (i.e., 20 min) is likely to underestimate sedentary time among older adults.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Kinesiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS.
authors.forename: Emily L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Mailey
authors.forename: Neha P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Gothe
authors.forename: Thomas R
authors.initials: TR
authors.lastname: Wójcicki
authors.forename: Amanda N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Szabo
authors.forename: Erin A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: Sean P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Mullen
authors.forename: Jason T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Fanning
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Motl
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McAuley
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry / Q000379:methods*; D000368:Aged; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D012107:Research Design; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D057566:Self Report; D013996:Time and Motion Studies