title: Are context-specific measures of parental-reported physical activity and sedentary behaviour associated with accelerometer data in 2-9-year-old European children?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to investigate if context-specific measures of parental-reported physical activity and sedentary behaviour are associated with objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven European countries taking part in the IDEFICS (Identification and Prevention of Dietary- and Lifestyle-induced Health Effects in Children and Infants) study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were analysed from 2-9-year-old children (n 5982) who provided both parental-reported and accelerometer-derived physical activity/sedentary behaviour measures. Parents reported their children's daily screen-time, weekly sports participation and daily outdoor playtime by means of the Outdoor Playtime Checklist (OPC) and Outdoor Playtime Recall Questions (OPRQ).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sports participation, OPC- and OPRQ-derived outdoor play were positively associated with accelerometer-derived physical activity. Television viewing and computer use were positively associated with accelerometer-derived sedentary time. All parental-reported measures that were significantly associated with accelerometer outcomes explained only a minor part of the variance in accelerometer-derived physical activity or sedentary time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Parental-reported measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviour are not useful as a proxy for 2-9-year-old children's physical activity and sedentary time. Findings do not preclude the use of context-specific measures but imply that conclusions should be limited to the context-specific behaviours that are actually measured. Depending on the aim of the study, future research should carefully consider the choice of measurements, including the use of subjective or objective measures of the behaviour of interest or a combination of both.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Movement and Sports Sciences,Ghent University,Watersportlaan 2,Ghent 9000,Belgium.
authors.forename: Vera
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verbestel
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Public Health,Ghent University,Ghent,Belgium.
authors.forename: Stefaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Henauw
authors.affiliation: 3Institute for Public Health and Nursing Research,University of Bremen,Bremen,Germany.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bammann
authors.affiliation: 5Institute of Food Sciences,Unit of Epidemiology and Population Genetics,National Research Council,Avellino,Italy.
authors.forename: Gianvincenzo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barba
authors.affiliation: 6Research and Education Institute for Child Health,Strovolos,Cyprus.
authors.forename: Charalambos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hadjigeorgiou
authors.affiliation: 7Department of Public Health and Community Medicine,Sahlgrenska Academy,University of Gothenburg,Gothenburg,Sweden.
authors.forename: Gabriele
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eiben
authors.affiliation: 8National Institute for Health Development,Tallinn,Estonia.
authors.forename: Kenn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Konstabel
authors.affiliation: 9Department of Pediatrics,University of Pécs,Pécs,Hungary.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kovács
authors.affiliation: 10College of Medical,Veterinary and Life Sciences,University of Glasgow,Glasgow,UK.
authors.forename: Yannis
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pitsiladis
authors.affiliation: 11Department of Intercultural Communication and Management,Copenhagen Business School,Frederiksberg,Denmark.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Reisch
authors.affiliation: 12GENUD (Growth, Exercise, Nutrition and Development) Research Group,University School of Health Sciences,University of Zaragoza,Zaragoza,Spain.
authors.forename: Alba M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Santaliestra-Pasías
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Public Health,Ghent University,Ghent,Belgium.
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maes
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Movement and Sports Sciences,Ghent University,Watersportlaan 2,Ghent 9000,Belgium.
authors.forename: Ilse
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Bourdeaudhuij
mesh_terms: D061725:Accelerometry; D057189:Checklist; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity; D010290:Parents; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010988:Play and Playthings; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D057566:Self Report; D013177:Sports
keywords: Children