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Published on: March 7, 2019
Physical activity: measurement in mid-life women
1Office for Gender and Health, Department of Psychiatry, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. j.guthrie@medicine.unimelb.edu.au
Acta Obstetricia Et Gynecologica Scandinavica
|August 23, 2002
Summary
A short physical activity questionnaire effectively measured exercise participation and changes over time in mid-life women, comparable to the Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity questionnaire. This finding aids in selecting appropriate physical activity assessment tools.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Gerontology
Background:
- Assessing physical activity is crucial for understanding health behaviors in mid-life women.
- The Melbourne Women's Midlife Health Project (MWMHP) utilized two distinct questionnaires to measure physical activity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methods for assessing physical activity.
- To compare the efficacy of two questionnaires: the Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity questionnaire and a short physical activity question.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal population-based study involving Australian women aged 45-55 at baseline.
- Administration of a modified Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity questionnaire and a short, interviewer-administered physical activity question.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mean weekly exercise hours was observed between cross-sectional and 3-year follow-up assessments using the Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity questionnaire.
- Responses from both questionnaires showed significant association (beta = -0.89, p < 0.0005).
- Both questionnaires indicated changes in physical activity participation, with approximately 10-14% of women altering their exercise habits significantly between assessments.
Conclusions:
- The short physical activity question demonstrated comparable validity to the Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity questionnaire for assessing physical activity participation and changes in mid-life women.
- This suggests the short questionnaire is a viable alternative for measuring physical activity in similar cohorts.
