Exploring Recall of Physical Activity in Young People Using Qualitative Interviewing

2004 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
James McKenna ◽  
Lucy Jane Foster ◽  
Angela Page

Recall of physical activity is a known problem affecting all forms of self-report. Participants age 8–16 years contributed to 16 focus groups and 24 interviews based on cognitive interviewing (n = 8) and think-aloud (n = 8) and general probing (n = 8) techniques. When unassisted, participants readily described physical activity mode but gave vague descriptions of daily activities. In contrast, the close detail of frequency, intensity, and duration of these activities was only more fully developed through prompting. Talk-based methods can provide considerable insight into developing more reliable and valid physical activity self-reports.

2018 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 471-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arie Kapteyn ◽  
James Banks ◽  
Mark Hamer ◽  
James P Smith ◽  
Andrew Steptoe ◽  
...  

BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) is important for maintaining health, but there are fundamental unanswered questions on how best it should be measured.MethodsWe measured PA in the Netherlands (n=748), the USA (n=540) and England (n=254), both by a 7 day wrist-worn accelerometer and by self-reports. The self-reports included a global self-report on PA and a report on the frequency of vigorous, moderate and mild activity.ResultsThe self-reported data showed only minor differences across countries and across groups within countries (such as different age groups or working vs non-working respondents). The accelerometer data, however, showed large differences; the Dutch and English appeared to be much more physically active than Americans h (For instance, among respondents aged 50 years or older 38% of Americans are in the lowest activity quintile of the Dutch distribution). In addition, accelerometer data showed a sharp decline of PA with age, while no such pattern was observed in self-reports. The differences between objective measures and self-reports occurred for both types of self-reports.ConclusionIt is clear that self-reports and objective measures tell vastly different stories, suggesting that across countries people use different response scales when answering questions about how physically active they are.


2018 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 567-581 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katrina Skewes McFerran ◽  
Cherry Hense ◽  
Asami Koike ◽  
Debra Rickwood

Rationale: Many young people turn to music as a way of exploring and managing their moods and emotions. The literature is replete with studies that correlate music preferences and mental health, as well as a small but increasing interest in uses of music to promote well-being. Recent studies have shown that music use is often unconscious, thus difficult to influence without therapeutic conversations. No study has yet tested whether it is feasible to increase awareness of music use in young people who tend to ruminate with music, and test whether increased awareness can reduce distress. Design: This feasibility study aimed to determine whether involvement in a brief music-based intervention was engaging and acceptable to a small sample of young people, and whether their levels of distress decreased and insight into music uses increased. A mixed methods approach was adopted, merging scores of distress and self-reported experience of the intervention to foster interpretation. Results: Convergent analysis of the different data forms suggests that at least some of the measurable decreases in distress captured for all of the participants were related to participation in the sessions, according to the self-report of a number of the young people in interviews. This is demonstrated through descriptive data compiled under two key themes (Agency and Changed Uses) and illustrated through three case examples that were drawn largely from the words of the young people. Conclusion: This feasibility study suggests that young people’s relationship with music provides a powerful platform for leveraging engagement in services and improvements in distress, when well timed and carefully scaffolded.


2002 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Mota ◽  
Paula Santos ◽  
Sandra Guerra ◽  
José C. Ribeiro ◽  
José A. Duarte ◽  
...  

The goal of this study was to validate an adapted version of the “weekly checklist” in a Portuguese population. The validity was assessed by comparing self-reports against the Computer Science and Application, Inc (CSA) monitor. The sample comprised 109 children (boys, n = 42; girls, n = 67), aged 8 to 16 years old. All subjects were volunteers from local schools (Oporto region). The weekly activity checklist was modestly (r = 0.30) but significantly (p < .01) correlated with the CSA. Girls (r = 40; p < .01) had higher correlations than boys (0.28; p < .05). When the values were analyzed by age, excluding the young subjects (<10 years old), the correlation values were slightly higher (r = 0.38; p < .01). The Portuguese version of the “weekly activity checklist” had similar reliability and validity as the original version. The measure appears to have lower validity in 8- and 9-year-old children.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1544
Author(s):  
Burkhard Moellenbeck ◽  
Frank Horst ◽  
Georg Gosheger ◽  
Christoph Theil ◽  
Leonie Seeber ◽  
...  

This study examined whether an alignment of physical activity (PA) between osteoarthritis patients and their spouses, which was previously proven by accelerometry, might also be revealed by self-report. The PA of 28 cohabitating couples (58–83 years) was assessed by means of synchronous accelerometry (ActiGraph wGTX3-BT) and compared to their according self-reports in the German Physical Activity, Exercise, and Sport Questionnaire (BSA-F). Both methods were used to quantify the average weekly light PA, moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA), and total PA. Accelerometry revealed no differences in weekly light PA and total PA (p ≥ 0.187) between patients and spouses, whereas the patients’ spouses accumulated significantly more MVPA (p = 0.015). In contrast, the self-report did not reveal any differences between the two groups in terms of PA (p ≥ 0.572). Subsequent correlation analyses indicated that accelerometry data for mild PA and total PA were significantly correlated in couples (r ≥ 0.385, p ≤ 0.024), but MVPA was not (r = 0.257, p = 0.097). The self-reported PA data, on the other hand, did not indicate any significant correlation (r ≤ 0.046, p ≥ 0.409). The presented results give a first indication that an alignment of PA between osteoarthritis patients and their spouses is most likely to be detected by accelerometry, but not by self-report.


ISRN Obesity ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Duncan ◽  
Samantha Birch ◽  
Lorayne Woodfield ◽  
Yahya Al-Nakeeb

The built environment may influence physical activity (PA) behaviour in young people. However, there is a dearth of data examining this issue in young people which considers weight status, physical activity, and environmental perceptions in the same analysis. Four hundred and five Year 10 pupils (223 boys, 182 girls, mean age years), from central England, completed self-report measures of PA and perceptions of the built environment. Additionally, body mass index (BMI) was determined from height and weight. PA (MET/Min week−1) was positively related to environmental perceptions () and negatively related to BMI (). PA was significantly greater in boys () and normal weight children compared to girls and overweight/obese children, respectively (). Perception of the built environment was significant as a covariate () with a one-unit increase on this measure associated with a 141 MET/Min week−1 increase in PA. This study, therefore, supports claims that the built environment, and perceptions of it, can have an impact on health indices.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1048-1056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Timothy L. Barnes ◽  
Erin K. Howie ◽  
Suzanne McDermott ◽  
Joshua R. Mann

Background:Few studies have documented physical activity (PA) and overweight and obesity in adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) using both self-report and objective methods. We sought to characterize PA in adults with ID and examine the associations between self-reported activity types, objectively-measured PA, and objectively-measured body mass index (BMI).Methods:Self-reported PA and BMI were measured on 294 adults with ID. Accelerometry was collected on 131 of those participants. Differences in BMI and accelerometry by demographic factors and activity types were examined.Results:Among the participants, 79.6% were overweight or obese and 23.7% met recommended PA guidelines. The mean amount of moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) per week was 108.6 minutes. The most common activities reported were walking (53.7%) and inside chores (42.5%). Twenty-six percent reported no activity. Biking and jogging/running was associated with lower BMI. Self reports of playing basketball, softball, and outside chores were associated with increased MVPA.Conclusion:In this sample of adults with ID, most participants were overweight or obese and PA levels were below national averages. Select self-reported activities and greater objectively measured PA were associated with lower BMI.


2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph J Scott ◽  
Vibeke Hansen ◽  
Philip J Morgan ◽  
Ronald C Plotnikoff ◽  
David R Lubans

Objective: To explore young people’s perceptions of pedometers and investigate behaviours exhibited while being monitored. Design: Qualitative design using six focus groups with participants (mean age 14.7 years). Setting: Study participants ( n = 24) were randomly selected from a previous study of 123 young people aged 14–15 years from three secondary schools in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Methods: Participants wore pedometers (Yamax CW700) and accelerometers (ActiGraph GT3X+) simultaneously for 7 days. Accelerometer output was used to categorise participants into one of six focus groups (three boys groups and three girls groups): (1) low active (<30 minutes moderate to vigorous physical activity [MVPA]/day), (2) medium active (30–60 minutes MVPA/day), and (3) high active (≥60 minutes MVPA/day). Participants were questioned on their perceptions of the monitoring process and the behaviours that they exhibited while wearing pedometers. A hybrid approach to data analysis identified key concepts, which were thematically analysed. Results: The two main themes identified were (1) participants’ perceptions of the monitoring process and (2) behaviour exhibited while being monitored. Overall, participants’ attitudes towards objective monitoring were positive. A large proportion reported changing their levels of physical activity during the monitoring process, and 87.5% of focus group participants reported shaking their pedometers to increase their step counts. The medium and high active groups reported changing their activity patterns more than the low active groups. Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with previous quantitative studies that suggest reactivity and tampering are commonplace among young people. Pedometers may have more utility as an intervention strategy for increasing activity rather than as a method for assessing habitual activity levels.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 544-559 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer Harris ◽  
Linda Jane Milnes ◽  
Gary Mountain

Over 75% children in the United Kingdom fail to achieve recommended levels of physical activity. Successful implementation of ‘The Daily Mile™’, a school-based physical activity intervention, could promote activity. We examined factors instrumental to replication and/or wider implementation of ‘The Daily Mile’ through application of a two phase multi-method process evaluation. Phase one: 75 children (mean age seven years eight months) from one East Midland primary academy trialled the intervention. Data collected were self-report logs, perceived exertion scores and structured observation. Phase two: a sub-sample of 18 stakeholders participated in focus groups which were analysed using framework method. Teachers delivered ‘The Daily Mile’ on 93.6% of school days. An average of 95.2% of students participated, 94.2% completed recommended 15 minutes, 94.3% to a moderate-to-vigorous level. Three themes emerged in focus groups; embedding ‘The Daily Mile’ into practice, creating the right physical environment and building relationships/promoting a supportive climate. With systematic organisation and planning, ‘The Daily Mile’ could emerge as an integrated means of increasing physical activity. A supportive climate and factors that promote resilience are key facilitators. Further research is needed to establish outcomes and cost-effectiveness.


2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (s1) ◽  
pp. S37-S43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elva M. Arredondo ◽  
Tamar Mendelson ◽  
Christina Holub ◽  
Nancy Espinoza ◽  
Simon Marshall

Context:The validity of physical activity (PA) self-report measures can be a problem when using these measures with target populations that differ from the population for which the measures were originally developed.Objectives:Describe an approach to further tailor PA self-report measures to a target community, and report on focus group and cognitive interview findings.Process:Topics relevant to culturally tailoring measures are discussed, including translation, focus groups, and cognitive interviews. We describe examples from our own work, including focus groups and cognitive interviews conducted to assess Latinos’ interpretations of PA questions derived from various epidemiological surveys that were developed in White communities.Findings:Findings from focus groups and cognitive interviews provide valuable information about the comprehension, interpretation, and cultural relevance of the PA questions to Latino communities.Conclusions:It is recommended that investigators collect formative data to better assess the equivalence of items being applied to a different cultural group. Guidelines for cultural attunement of self-report instruments are described to promote more uniform and rigorous processes of adaptation and facilitate cross-cultural investigations.


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