Background: Self-report recall questionnaires are cost efficient, low burden assessment tools commonly used in population research to examine the determinants of childhood obesity. However, self-report questionnaires typically exhibit poor to moderate psychometric properties due complexity in recalling each behaviour and bias intrinsic to self-report data (e.g. social desirability). In this study, we examined the reliability and validity of a battery of self-report recall questionnaires that examined physical activity, sedentary behaviour, dietary intake and sleep hygiene among children aged 9-12 years.
Methods: The test-retest reliability of the questionnaires was assessed among a sample of 26 Grade 4 and 6 students (Mage = 11.15 ± 1.07) who completed the questionnaires on two occasions, one week apart in 2014. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing self-reported physical activity and sedentary behaviour against objectively measured duration spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and sedentary time via accelerometry from a sub-sample of 19 students. Test-retest reliability of individual items and scales was determined for categorical variables using Kappa statistics. Spearman’s rho assessed correlations between daily MVPA and sedentary time from self-report estimates.
Results: Preliminary analysis indicate test-retest reliability ranges from no agreement to high agreement for categorical variables with kappa coefficients ranging from -0.07 to 0.86. Items examining dietary intake consistently showed poor to moderate reliability with kappa ranging from 0.15-0.48 while items indicating adherence to national PA and SB guidelines having the strong reliability when met on all 7 days (κ = 0.61, κ = 0.61). Initial results suggest the correlations between reported PA and accelerometer data were weak to moderate and non-significant (rs = 0.29, p = 0.24).
Conclusion: Primarily analysis indicate the questionnaires psychometric properties are consistent with systematic reviews of existing international questionnaires, that examine physical activity, sedentary behaviour, dietary intake and sleep hygiene in children.