Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Exercise Science
• Physical Activity Measurement
• Child Health Research

Background:

• Accurate assessment of physical activity in children is crucial for public health.
• The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) is a widely used tool, but its Japanese version needed validation.
• Understanding physical activity levels in Japanese children aged 9-12 years is important for developing targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C).
• To confirm its suitability for use in Japanese children aged 9 to 12 years.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 210 Japanese children aged 9-12 years.
• Reliability was assessed using Cronbach's alpha for internal consistency and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for test-retest reliability.
• Validity was examined by correlating PAQ-C scores with athletic competence, self-efficacy, BMI, body fat percentage, cardiovascular fitness, and the WHO HBSC physical activity questionnaire.

Main Results:

• The Japanese PAQ-C demonstrated acceptable internal consistency (alpha = 0.80) and excellent test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.83).
• Significant correlations were found between PAQ-C scores and athletic competence (r=0.41), self-efficacy (r=0.65), body fat percentage (r=0.19), and cardiovascular fitness (r=-0.32).
• Children classified as active by the WHO HBSC questionnaire had significantly higher PAQ-C scores (3.03 ± 0.57) than inactive children (2.27 ± 0.63).

Conclusions:

• The Japanese version of the PAQ-C exhibits acceptable reliability and validity.
• The PAQ-C is confirmed as a useful instrument for evaluating physical activity in Japanese children aged 9 to 12 years.
• This validated questionnaire can aid in monitoring and promoting physical activity in this demographic.