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Validity of the Movement Behavior Questionnaire-Child (MBQ-C) Physical Activity Domain among Toddlers
Soyang Kwon1, Nidhi S Gopagani1, Isabella R Zylka1
1Northwestern University.
Research Square
|January 9, 2026
Summary
Caregiver reports of toddler physical activity using the Movement Behavior Questionnaire-Child (MBQ-C) show poor reliability and validity. The MBQ-C PA domain may not accurately capture movement in young children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Movement Science
- Child Development
Background:
- The Movement Behavior Questionnaire-Child (MBQ-C) assesses 24-hour movement behaviors in children under 5.
- This study focused on the MBQ-C's physical activity (PA) domain for toddlers aged 1-2 years.
Purpose of the Study:
- Evaluate the test-retest reliability of the MBQ-C PA domain.
- Assess the convergent validity of the MBQ-C PA domain against accelerometer data.
Main Methods:
- 71 toddlers (16-34 months) wore accelerometers for 7 days.
- Mothers completed the MBQ-C PA domain twice (pre- and post-wear).
- Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Spearman correlations were used for analysis.
Main Results:
- Test-retest reliability was poor for active play (ICC=0.45) and moderate for energetic play (ICC=0.57).
- MBQ-C PA estimates showed no significant correlation with accelerometer-derived PA metrics (ρ=-0.18 to 0.07).
- Minimal floor and ceiling effects were observed in the MBQ-C PA domain.
Conclusions:
- The MBQ-C PA domain exhibits poor to moderate test-retest reliability in toddlers.
- Convergent validity of the MBQ-C PA domain against objective measures is very low.
- Caregiver reports may struggle to accurately capture the complex movement patterns of toddlers.
