International Journal of Epidemiology

This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Archive Download to citation manager Search for citing articles in: ISI Web of Science (209) Request Permissions Google Scholar Articles by WOLF, A. M Articles by WILLETT, W. C Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by WOLF, A. M Articles by WILLETT, W. C Social Bookmarking          What's this?

© 1994 Oxford University Press

research-article

Reproducibility and Validity of a Self-Administered Physical Activity Questionnaire

ANNE M WOLF^*, DAVID J HUNTER^*,**, GRAHAM A COLDITZ^*,**, JOANN E MANSON^*,, MEIR J STAMPFER^*,**, KAREN A CORSANO^*, BERNARD ROSNER^*,, ANDREA KRISKA^§ and WALTER C WILLETT^*,**,||

^* Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, 180 Longwood Avenue, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, MA 02115, USA
^** Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health Boston, MA, USA
Division of Preventive Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital Boston, MA, USA
Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health Boston. MA, USA
^§ Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh PA, USA
^|| Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health Boston, MA, USA

BACKGROUND: The reproducibility and validity of self-administered questionnaires on physical activity and inactivity were examined in a random (representative) sample of the Nurses' Health Study II cohort and a random sample of African-American women in that cohort.

METHODS: Repeat questionnaires were administered 2 years apart. Past-week activity recalls and 7-day activity diaries were the referent methods; these instruments were sent to participants four times over a 1-year period.

RESULTS: The 2-year test-retest correlation for activity was 0.59 for the representative sample (n = 147) and 0.39 for the African-American sample (n = 84). Correlations between activity reported on recalls and that reported on questionnaire were 0.79 and 0.83 for the representative and African-American samples, respectively. Correlations between activity reported in diaries and that reported on questionnaire were 0.62 and 0.59, respectively. Test-retest coefficients for inactivity were 0.52 and 0.55, respectively. Correlations between inactivity reported in diaries and that reported on questionnaire were 0.41 and 0.44, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The simple, short questionnaires on activity and inactivity used in the Nurses' Health Study II are reasonably valid measures for epidemiological research.

Received 1 March 1994

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K. Ng, J. A. Meyerhardt, K. Wu, D. Feskanich, B. W. Hollis, E. L. Giovannucci, and C. S. Fuchs Circulating 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Survival in Patients With Colorectal Cancer J. Clin. Oncol., June 20, 2008; 26(18): 2984 - 2991. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. E. Aiello, M. N. Haan, C. M. Pierce, A. M. Simanek, and J. Liang Persistent Infection, Inflammation, and Functional Impairment in Older Latinos J. Gerontol. A Biol. Sci. Med. Sci., June 1, 2008; 63(6): 610 - 618. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. S. Maruti, W. C. Willett, D. Feskanich, B. Rosner, and G. A. Colditz A Prospective Study of Age-Specific Physical Activity and Premenopausal Breast Cancer J Natl Cancer Inst, May 21, 2008; 100(10): 728 - 737. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. K. Al-Delaimy and W. C. Willett Measurement of Tobacco Smoke Exposure: Comparison of Toenail Nicotine Biomarkers and Self-Reports Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., May 1, 2008; 17(5): 1255 - 1261. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. R. Weinstein, H. D. Sesso, I-M. Lee, K. M. Rexrode, N. R. Cook, J. E. Manson, J. E. Buring, and J. M. Gaziano The Joint Effects of Physical Activity and Body Mass Index on Coronary Heart Disease Risk in Women Arch Intern Med, April 28, 2008; 168(8): 884 - 890. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Zhang, K. M. Rexrode, R. M. van Dam, T. Y. Li, and F. B. Hu Abdominal Obesity and the Risk of All-Cause, Cardiovascular, and Cancer Mortality: Sixteen Years of Follow-Up in US Women Circulation, April 1, 2008; 117(13): 1658 - 1667. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. N. Holick, P. A. Newcomb, A. Trentham-Dietz, L. Titus-Ernstoff, A. J. Bersch, M. J. Stampfer, J. A. Baron, K. M. Egan, and W. C. Willett Physical Activity and Survival after Diagnosis of Invasive Breast Cancer Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., February 1, 2008; 17(2): 379 - 386. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. G. Ray MD MSc, A. P. Mohllajee MPH, R. M. van Dam PhD, and K. B. Michels ScD PhD Breast size and risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus Can. Med. Assoc. J., January 29, 2008; 178(3): 289 - 295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Robbins, A. K. Aragaki, C. Kooperberg, N. Watts, J. Wactawski-Wende, R. D. Jackson, M. S. LeBoff, C. E. Lewis, Z. Chen, M. L. Stefanick, et al. Factors Associated With 5-Year Risk of Hip Fracture in Postmenopausal Women JAMA, November 28, 2007; 298(20): 2389 - 2398. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Mora, N. Cook, J. E. Buring, P. M Ridker, and I-M. Lee Physical Activity and Reduced Risk of Cardiovascular Events: Potential Mediating Mechanisms Circulation, November 6, 2007; 116(19): 2110 - 2118. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. E. Chavarro, J. W. Rich-Edwards, B. A. Rosner, and W. C. Willett Diet and Lifestyle in the Prevention of Ovulatory Disorder Infertility Obstet. Gynecol., November 1, 2007; 110(5): 1050 - 1058. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Varraso, T. T Fung, R G. Barr, F. B Hu, W. Willett, and C. A Camargo Jr Prospective study of dietary patterns and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among US women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, August 1, 2007; 86(2): 488 - 495. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Janghorbani, F. B. Hu, W. C. Willett, T. Y. Li, J. E. Manson, G. Logroscino, and K. M. Rexrode Prospective Study of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes and Risk of Stroke Subtypes: The Nurses' Health Study Diabetes Care, July 1, 2007; 30(7): 1730 - 1735. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. L. Jurj, W. Wen, Y.-B. Xiang, C. E. Matthews, D. Liu, W. Zheng, and X.-O. Shu Reproducibility and Validity of the Shanghai Men's Health Study Physical Activity Questionnaire Am. J. Epidemiol., May 15, 2007; 165(10): 1124 - 1133. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Forman, E. Giovannucci, M. D. Holmes, H. A. Bischoff-Ferrari, S. S. Tworoger, W. C. Willett, and G. C. Curhan Plasma 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Levels and Risk of Incident Hypertension Hypertension, May 1, 2007; 49(5): 1063 - 1069. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Song, T. Y Li, R. M van Dam, J. E Manson, and F. B Hu Magnesium intake and plasma concentrations of markers of systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, April 1, 2007; 85(4): 1068 - 1074. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. N. Danforth, A. D. Shah, M. K. Townsend, K. L. Lifford, G. C. Curhan, N. M. Resnick, and F. Grodstein Physical Activity and Urinary Incontinence Among Healthy, Older Women Obstet. Gynecol., March 1, 2007; 109(3): 721 - 727. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Forman, E. B. Rimm, and G. C. Curhan Frequency of Analgesic Use and Risk of Hypertension Among Men Arch Intern Med, February 26, 2007; 167(4): 394 - 399. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. L. Sprague, A. Trentham-Dietz, P. A. Newcomb, L. Titus-Ernstoff, J. M. Hampton, and K. M. Egan Lifetime Recreational and Occupational Physical Activity and Risk of In situ and Invasive Breast Cancer Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., February 1, 2007; 16(2): 236 - 243. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Forman, H. Choi, and G. C. Curhan Plasma Uric Acid Level and Risk for Incident Hypertension Among Men J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., January 1, 2007; 18(1): 287 - 292. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Chan, J. A. Meyerhardt, A. T. Chan, E. L. Giovannucci, G. A. Colditz, and C. S. Fuchs Hormone Replacement Therapy and Survival After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis J. Clin. Oncol., December 20, 2006; 24(36): 5680 - 5686. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. D. Tran, C. Diorio, S. Berube, M. Pollak, and J. Brisson Relation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I and IGF-binding protein 3 concentrations with intakes of fruit, vegetables, and antioxidants Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, December 1, 2006; 84(6): 1518 - 1526. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. R. Patel, A. Malhotra, D. P. White, D. J. Gottlieb, and F. B. Hu Association between Reduced Sleep and Weight Gain in Women Am. J. Epidemiol., November 15, 2006; 164(10): 947 - 954. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. N VGONTZAS, E. O BIXLER, and G. P CHROUSOS Obesity-Related Sleepiness and Fatigue: The Role of the Stress System and Cytokines Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., November 1, 2006; 1083(1): 329 - 344. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Lopez-Garcia, R. M van Dam, L. Qi, and F. B Hu Coffee consumption and markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in healthy and diabetic women. Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, October 1, 2006; 84(4): 888 - 893. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Wu, W. C. Willett, N. Rifai, I. Shai, J. E. Manson, and E. B. Rimm Is Plasma Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein, Measured With the Widely Used Antibody 4E6, an Independent Predictor of Coronary Heart Disease Among U.S. Men and Women? J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 5, 2006; 48(5): 973 - 979. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. G. Skinner, D. S. Michaud, E. Giovannucci, W. C. Willett, G. A. Colditz, and C. S. Fuchs Vitamin d intake and the risk for pancreatic cancer in two cohort studies. Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., September 1, 2006; 15(9): 1688 - 1695. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Meyerhardt, E. L. Giovannucci, M. D. Holmes, A. T. Chan, J. A. Chan, G. A. Colditz, and C. S. Fuchs Physical Activity and Survival After Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis J. Clin. Oncol., August 1, 2006; 24(22): 3527 - 3534. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Meyerhardt, D. Heseltine, D. Niedzwiecki, D. Hollis, L. B. Saltz, R. J. Mayer, J. Thomas, H. Nelson, R. Whittom, A. Hantel, et al. Impact of Physical Activity on Cancer Recurrence and Survival in Patients With Stage III Colon Cancer: Findings From CALGB 89803 J. Clin. Oncol., August 1, 2006; 24(22): 3535 - 3541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. van Dam, W. C. Willett, J. E. Manson, and F. B. Hu The Relationship between Overweight in Adolescence and Premature Death in Women Ann Intern Med, July 18, 2006; 145(2): 91 - 97. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Janghorbani, D. Feskanich, W. C. Willett, and F. Hu Prospective Study of Diabetes and Risk of Hip Fracture: The Nurses' Health Study Diabetes Care, July 1, 2006; 29(7): 1573 - 1578. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. C. Jacobson, S. C. Somers, C. S. Fuchs, C. P. Kelly, and C. A. Camargo Jr. Body-mass index and symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux in women. N. Engl. J. Med., June 1, 2006; 354(22): 2340 - 2348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. M. Friedenreich, K. S. Courneya, H. K. Neilson, C. E. Matthews, G. Willis, M. Irwin, R. Troiano, and R. Ballard-Barbash Reliability and Validity of the Past Year Total Physical Activity Questionnaire Am. J. Epidemiol., May 15, 2006; 163(10): 959 - 970. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. N. Taylor, F. B. Hu, and G. C. Curhan Antihypertensive Medications and the Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes Diabetes Care, May 1, 2006; 29(5): 1065 - 1070. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. V. Patel, C. Rodriguez, A. L. Pavluck, M. J. Thun, and E. E. Calle Recreational Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior in Relation to Ovarian Cancer Risk in a Large Cohort of US Women Am. J. Epidemiol., April 15, 2006; 163(8): 709 - 716. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. L. Wiecha, K. E. Peterson, D. S. Ludwig, J. Kim, A. Sobol, and S. L. Gortmaker When Children Eat What They Watch: Impact of Television Viewing on Dietary Intake in Youth Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, April 1, 2006; 160(4): 436 - 442. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Whang, J. E. Manson, F. B. Hu, C. U. Chae, K. M. Rexrode, W. C. Willett, M. J. Stampfer, and C. M. Albert Physical Exertion, Exercise, and Sudden Cardiac Death in Women JAMA, March 22, 2006; 295(12): 1399 - 1403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Mora, I-M. Lee, J. E. Buring, and P. M Ridker Association of Physical Activity and Body Mass Index With Novel and Traditional Cardiovascular Biomarkers in Women JAMA, March 22, 2006; 295(12): 1412 - 1419. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Zhang, C. G. Solomon, J. E. Manson, and F. B. Hu A prospective study of pregravid physical activity and sedentary behaviors in relation to the risk for gestational diabetes mellitus. Arch Intern Med, March 13, 2006; 166(5): 543 - 548. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Lopez-Garcia, R. M van Dam, S. Rajpathak, W. C Willett, J. E Manson, and F. B Hu Changes in caffeine intake and long-term weight change in men and women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, March 1, 2006; 83(3): 674 - 680. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. M. van Dam, W. C. Willett, J. E. Manson, and F. B. Hu Coffee, Caffeine, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: A prospective cohort study in younger and middle-aged U.S. women Diabetes Care, February 1, 2006; 29(2): 398 - 403. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Diorio, S. Berube, C. Byrne, B. Masse, N. Hebert-Croteau, M. Yaffe, G. Cote, M. Pollak, and J. Brisson Influence of Insulin-like Growth Factors on the Strength of the Relation of Vitamin D and Calcium Intakes to Mammographic Breast Density Cancer Res., January 1, 2006; 66(1): 588 - 597. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. M. Stuebe, J. W. Rich-Edwards, W. C. Willett, J. E. Manson, and K. B. Michels Duration of Lactation and Incidence of Type 2 Diabetes JAMA, November 23, 2005; 294(20): 2601 - 2610. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Diorio, M. Pollak, C. Byrne, B. Masse, N. Hebert-Croteau, M. Yaffe, G. Cote, S. Berube, and J. Brisson Levels of C-Peptide and Mammographic Breast Density Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., November 1, 2005; 14(11): 2661 - 2664. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. Blicher, K. Joshipura, and P. Eke Validation of Self-reported Periodontal Disease: A Systematic Review J. Dent. Res., October 1, 2005; 84(10): 881 - 890. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Forman, H. A. Bischoff-Ferrari, W. C. Willett, M. J. Stampfer, and G. C. Curhan Vitamin D Intake and Risk of Incident Hypertension: Results From Three Large Prospective Cohort Studies Hypertension, October 1, 2005; 46(4): 676 - 682. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B Schulze, K. Hoffmann, J. E Manson, W. C Willett, J. B Meigs, C. Weikert, C. Heidemann, G. A Colditz, and F. B Hu Dietary pattern, inflammation, and incidence of type 2 diabetes in women Am. J. Clinical Nutrition, September 1, 2005; 82(3): 675 - 684. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. J. Saleh, K. J. Mulhall, B. Bershadsky, H. M. Ghomrawi, L. E. White, C. M. Buyea, and K. A. Krackow Development and Validation of a Lower-Extremity Activity Scale. Use for Patients Treated with Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty J. Bone Joint Surg. Am., September 1, 2005; 87(9): 1985 - 1994. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Sorensen, E. Barbeau, A. M. Stoddard, M. K. Hunt, K. Kaphingst, and L. Wallace Promoting Behavior Change Among Working-Class, Multiethnic Workers: Results of the Healthy Directions--Small Business Study Am J Public Health, August 1, 2005; 95(8): 1389 - 1395. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Berube, C. Diorio, B. Masse, N. Hebert-Croteau, C. Byrne, G. Cote, M. Pollak, M. Yaffe, and J. Brisson Vitamin D and Calcium Intakes from Food or Supplements and Mammographic Breast Density Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., July 1, 2005; 14(7): 1653 - 1659. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. M. Emmons, A. M. Stoddard, R. Fletcher, C. Gutheil, E. G. Suarez, R. Lobb, J. Weeks, and J. A. Bigby Cancer Prevention Among Working Class, Multiethnic Adults: Results of the Healthy Directions-Health Centers Study Am J Public Health, July 1, 2005; 95(7): 1200 - 1205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. Wu, W. C. Willett, S. E. Hankinson, and E. Giovannucci Caffeinated Coffee, Decaffeinated Coffee, and Caffeine in Relation to Plasma C-Peptide Levels, a Marker of Insulin Secretion, in U.S. Women Diabetes Care, June 1, 2005; 28(6): 1390 - 1396. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. D. Holmes, W. Y. Chen, D. Feskanich, C. H. Kroenke, and G. A. Colditz Physical Activity and Survival After Breast Cancer Diagnosis JAMA, May 25, 2005; 293(20): 2479 - 2486. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Diorio, M. Pollak, C. Byrne, B. Masse, N. Hebert-Croteau, M. Yaffe, G. Cote, S. Berube, C. Morin, and J. Brisson Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I, IGF-Binding Protein-3, and Mammographic Breast Density Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., May 1, 2005; 14(5): 1065 - 1073. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. K. Wei, J. Ma, M. N. Pollak, N. Rifai, C. S. Fuchs, S. E. Hankinson, and E. Giovannucci A Prospective Study of C-Peptide, Insulin-like Growth Factor-I, Insulin-like Growth Factor Binding Protein-1, and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Women Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., April 1, 2005; 14(4): 850 - 855. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. T. Chan, G. J. Tranah, E. L. Giovannucci, D. J. Hunter, and C. S. Fuchs Genetic Variants in the UGT1A6 Enzyme, Aspirin Use, and the Risk of Colorectal Adenoma J Natl Cancer Inst, March 16, 2005; 97(6): 457 - 460. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. P. Forman, E. B. Rimm, M. J. Stampfer, and G. C. Curhan Folate Intake and the Risk of Incident Hypertension Among US Women JAMA, January 19, 2005; 293(3): 320 - 329. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

D. S. Michaud, C. S. Fuchs, S. Liu, W. C. Willett, G. A. Colditz, and E. Giovannucci Dietary Glycemic Load, Carbohydrate, Sugar, and Colorectal Cancer Risk in Men and Women Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev., January 1, 2005; 14(1): 138 - 147. [Abstract] [Full Text]