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Updated: May 4, 2026
Visualization of Intensity Levels to Reduce the Gap Between Self-Reported and Directly Measured Physical Activity
Published on: March 7, 2019
Accelerometer-measured versus self-reported physical activity in college students: implications for research and
Andrew Downs1, Jacqueline Van Hoomissen, Andrew Lafrenz
1a Department of Psychological Sciences , University of Portland , Portland , Oregon.
Objective:
To determine the level of moderate-vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) assessed via self-report and accelerometer in the college population, and to examine intrapersonal and contextual variables associated with physical activity (PA).
Participants:
Participants were 77 college students at a university in the northwest sampled between January 2011 and December 2011.
Methods:
Participants completed a validated self-report measure of PA and measures of athletic identity and benefits and barriers to exercise. Participants' PA levels were assessed for 2 weeks via accelerometry.
Results:
Participants' estimations of their time spent engaged in MVPA were significantly higher when measured via self-report versus accelerometry. Stronger athletic identity, perceived social benefits and barriers, and time-effort barriers were related to PA levels.
Conclusions:
Estimation of college students' level of PA may require interpretation of data from different measurement methods, as self-report and accelerometry generate different estimations of PA in college students who may be even less active than previously believed.
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