title: Accelerometer-measured versus self-reported physical activity in college students: implications for research and practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the level of moderate-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) assessed via self-report and accelerometer in the college population, and to examine intrapersonal and contextual variables associated with physical activity (PA).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants were 77 college students at a university in the northwest sampled between January 2011 and December 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants completed a validated self-report measure of PA and measures of athletic identity and benefits and barriers to exercise. Participants' PA levels were assessed for 2 weeks via accelerometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants' estimations of their time spent engaged in MVPA were significantly higher when measured via self-report versus accelerometry. Stronger athletic identity, perceived social benefits and barriers, and time-effort barriers were related to PA levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Estimation of college students' level of PA may require interpretation of data from different measurement methods, as self-report and accelerometry generate different estimations of PA in college students who may be even less active than previously believed.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Psychological Sciences , University of Portland , Portland , Oregon.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Downs
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Hoomissen
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lafrenz
authors.forename: Deana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Julka
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000523:psychology; D003479:Curriculum / Q000639:trends; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D057566:Self Report; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires