[Psychometric properties of the questionnaire data on individual history of activity : Validity and reliability of the lifetime leisure physical activity questionnaire in community-dwelling older adults].

Background: The lifetime leisure physical activity questionnaire (LLPAQ) is a derivative of the historical leisure activity questionnaire (HLAQ) of Kriska et al. (1988) for capture of the complete activity biography. The present study investigated the reliability and the validity of the LLPAQ of Engeroff and Vogt (2018).

Methods: A total of 47 seniors (75-90 years old) participated in an objective measurement of activity and completed the LLPAQ. For validation of the questionnaire accelerometer-based data were compared with the subjective report in the LLPAQ on physical activity from the last year of life using a correlation analysis. Data from a second LLPAQ filled out by 14 participants (after 6 weeks) were used for reliability analysis (difference and correlation).

Results: Subjectively captured data on the physical activity of the last year correlated with the objectively measured activity data (r = 0.311, p = 0.033). Although self-reporting overestimated the amount by almost 176%, test-retest data on MET-hours per episode showed a correlation (r = 0.824; p < 0.001). Check for internal consistency of individual episodes across the lifespan yielded a Cronbach's alpha of 0.8 (p < 0.001).

Discussion: The LLPAQ showed good reliability values in the retest at 6 weeks, particularly considering the problem of manifold errors of subjective activity measurement in participants at old age. Regarding the discrepancy between the time periods of objective (1 week) and subjective (1 year) surveys, the proven medium effect strength indicates the high validity of the questionnaire.