Reliability and validity of a sedentary behavior questionnaire for South American children and adolescents: SAYCARE Study

• Grant number: 17/15559-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants - Publications - Scientific article
• Start date: September 01, 2017
• End date: February 28, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Epidemiology
• Principal Investigator: Heraclito Barbosa de Carvalho
• Grantee: Heraclito Barbosa de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/11468-6 - Design and implementation of the SAYCARE Study: South American Youth/Child Cardiovascular and Environmental Study, AP.R

Abstract

Background: Although there is increasing interest regarding the epidemiology of youthlifestyles, accurate measures of sedentary behavior (SB) remain a challenge.Objective: To assess the reliability and validity of the South American Youth Cardiovascularand Environmental (SAYCARE) SB questionnaire in children and adolescents from SouthAmerican cities. Methods: Youths (aged between 3-18 years) from seven South American cities were evaluatedto examine the reliability and validity of the SAYCARE SB questionnaire. The questionnaireaddressed time spent in television viewing, computer use, console games, passive play (only inchildren) and study, during week and weekend days for the previous 7 days. The questionnairewas administered twice (2-weeks apart), and an accelerometer was used for at least 3 days,with at least one weekend day, in the week prior to administration of the first questionnaire.Results: The reliability of SB time was moderate for children (rho e 0.56 and k e 0.52) andadolescents (rho e 0.34, except for week days). Comparison between the questionnaire andaccelerometer showed an overall low agreement, with the questionnaire systematicallyunderreporting SB time in children (at least, -332.6 Å} 138.5 min/day) and adolescents (at least, -399.7 Å} 105.0 min/day). In addition, in adolescents, bias increased with high values of SB timefor week days (r= 0.66; p<.001). Conclusion: The SAYCARE SB questionnaire presents acceptable reliability in children and adolescents; however, it systematically underreports SB in youths. (AU)