Ecological Momentary Assessment of Physical Activity: Validation Study
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Updated: Feb 26, 2026
Assessment of Physical Activity Intensity with Accelerometers and Oxygen Consumption
Published on: June 20, 2025
Gregory Knell1, Kelley Pettee Gabriel2, Michael S Businelle3
1Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) at Houston, Houston, TX, United States.
Background:
Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) may elicit physical activity (PA) estimates that are less prone to bias than traditional self-report measures while providing context.
Objectives:
The objective of this study was to examine the convergent validity of EMA-assessed PA compared with accelerometry.
Methods:
The participants self-reported their PA using International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and wore an accelerometer while completing daily EMAs (delivered through the mobile phone) for 7 days. Weekly summary estimates included sedentary time and moderate-, vigorous-, and moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA). Spearman coefficients and Lin's concordance correlation coefficients (LCC) examined the linear association and agreement for EMA and the questionnaires as compared with accelerometry.
Results:
Participants were aged 43.3 (SD 13.1) years, 51.7% (123/238) were African American, 74.8% (178/238) were overweight or obese, and 63.0% (150/238) were low income. The linear associations of EMA and traditional self-reports with accelerometer estimates were statistically significant (P<.05) for sedentary time (EMA: ρ=.16), moderate-intensity PA (EMA: ρ=.29; BRFSS: ρ=.17; IPAQ: ρ=.24), and MVPA (EMA: ρ=.31; BRFSS: ρ=.17; IPAQ: ρ=.20). Only EMA estimates of PA were statistically significant compared with accelerometer for agreement.
Conclusions:
The mobile EMA showed better correlation and agreement to accelerometer estimates than traditional self-report methods. These findings suggest that mobile EMA may be a practical alternative to accelerometers to assess PA in free-living settings.
