Convergent validity: agreement between accelerometry and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire in college-age Saudi men.
BACKGROUND
The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) has been recommended for the international tracking of physical activity (PA). This study aimed to investigate the agreement between the GPAQ and accelerometry, as well as the test-retest reliability of the GPAQ in Saudi college-age men.


METHODS
The participants included 62 male students, aged 20.0 ± 1.1 year, with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 24.1 ± 6.3 kg/m(2). This study used a cross-sectional comparison of measures design. Participants completed the GPAQ twice (2 weeks apart) and wore accelerometers for seven consecutive days.


RESULTS
The agreement between the GPAQ and accelerometry for moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) was weak (r ≤ 0.32). Participants underreported sedentary time relative to accelerometer measurements (∆ = 3.4 h/day). BMI was statistically associated with increased bias between the two methods. However, correlations between the GPAQ test and retest for MVPA and sedentary time were moderate to strong (r = 0.44-0.78).


CONCLUSIONS
The GPAQ is reliable, but had low agreement with accelerometry for estimating MVPA, and very low agreement with accelerometry for estimating sedentary time in college-age Saudi men. Individual participant characteristics should be considered when using the GPAQ to estimate sedentary time. Adapting the current GPAQ to build a regional PA questionnaire is recommended.
Department of Exercise Physiology, College of Sport Sciences and Physical Activity, King Saud University, PO Box 1949, Riyadh, 11441, Saudi Arabia. shalkahtani@ksu.edu.sa.
Shaea A
SA
Alkahtani
D061725:Accelerometry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
Global Physical Activity Questionnaire; Saudi men; Sedentary behavior; Self-reported physical activity