The purpose of this study was to determine the construct validity of self-reported historical walking, running, and jogging (WRJ) activity. The criterion measure was concurrent performance on a maximal treadmill test. Subjects completed a medical exam and treadmill test between the years 1976 and 1985, and completed a follow-up questionnaire in 1986. Questionnaire included an item that assessed WRJ for each year from 1976 through 1985. Data analysis included Spearman correlations, partial correlations, ANOVA, and ANCOVA. Results indicated self-reported historical WRJ can be assessed with reasonable validity when compared with concurrently measured treadmill performance, and there is no decay in the accuracy of this reporting for up to ten years in the past.

Physical activity improves health while combating the obesity epidemic. However, quantifying physical activity through self-report questionnaires or objective measures can provide varying results. The purposes of these studies were to determine if time, body mass index, or treatment assignment could affect the validity of physical activity measurements. The data were part of a larger physical activity promotion study conducted at the Miriam Hospital/Brown Medical School in Providence, Rhode Island and in communities in Southeastern Massachusetts from 2002 to 2005. In this trial, 280 women, with a mean age of 47.1 years, were randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: Choose to Move (n=93), Jumpstart (n=95) and Wellness (n=92). A randomly selected sub sample of participants simultaneously wore an ActiGraph accelerometer and completed a 3-Day Physical Activity Recall questionnaire at baseline, 3 months and 12 months. Body mass index and treatment assignment were also used in-group comparisons. The results indicated that all components of time, BMI and treatment assignment influenced the accuracy of self-reported measurements when compared to objective accelerometer data. Additional research is essential to uncover the independent aspects considered influential to these physical activity measurements to enhance study design and participant outcomes in future trials. / Kinesiology