Table 1.
National Canadian surveys with questions on sedentary behaviour
| Survey name | Year(s) | Ages | Method of administration | Type(s) of sedentary behaviour | # of questions | Recall period, temporal unit | Response option |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canada Health Survey | 1978–79 | All ages | Interviewer-administered in-person without computer-assisted interviewing | Occupational (usual work activity) | 1 | Usual day, single day | Categorical (including “I am usually sitting during the day and do not walk very much”) |
| Canada Fitness Survey | 1981 | ≥ 10 years (questionnaire) | Self-administration in-person | Daily sitting | 1 | Usual day, single day | Categorical (including: “almost all of the time, bout ¾ of the time, about ½ of the time, about ¼ of the time, almost none of the time”) |
| Canadian Census – Long Form | 1996, 2001, 2006, 2016, ongoing | ≥ 15 years | Self-administration in-person | Passive transit (usual transit mode to work) | 1 | Usual day | Categorical (including: car, truck or van - as driver; car, truck or van - as passenger; public transit; motorcycle, taxicab) |
| Canadian Community Health Survey | 2000–01, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008 | ≥ 12 years (excludes residents of Indian Reserves, Crown Lands, institutions, certain remote regions, full-time members of Canadian Forces, and beginning in 2015 excludes youth living in foster homes) | Interview-led, personal interviews that were computer-assisted and assessed by phone |
1. Leisure computer 2. Leisure video gamesa 3. Leisure television 4. Leisure reading (paper-based) |
4 | Typical week, past 3-months | Categorical (none, < 1 h/week, 1-2 h/week, 3-5 h/week, 6-10 h/week, 11-14 h/week, 15-20 h/week, > 20 h/week) |
| 2009, 2010 |
1. Leisure computer 2. Leisure video gamesa 3. Leisure television 4. Leisure reading (paper-based) |
Continuous | |||||
| 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
1. Leisure computer 2. Leisure video gamesa 3. Leisure television 4. Leisure reading (paper + eBooks) |
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| 2015, 2016 |
1. Free time reading (including homework, paper-based and electronic formats) 2. Free time television, DVDs, movies or Internet videos 3. Free time video or computer gamesa 4. Free time computer, tablet or smart phone |
Last 7 days | Continuous | ||||
| 2017, 2018, ongoing |
1. Free time screen (television, electronic device) on school/work day 2. Free time screen (television, electronic device) on non-school/non-workday |
2 | Categorical (≤ 2 h/day, > 2 but < 4 h/day, 4 to < 6 h/day, 6 to < 8 h/day, ≥ 8 h/day) | ||||
| Canadian Community Health Survey – Nutrition Focus Survey | 2004 |
Children: 6–11 years Youth: 12–17 years |
Interview-led, personal interviews that were computer-assisted and assessed by phone |
Children: 1. Television, videos, video games 2. Computer (including playing games, e-mailing, chatting, surfing the Internet) |
Children: 2 | Children: average day | Children: categorical (none, <1 h/day, 1-2 h/day, 3-4 h/day, 5-6 h/day, ≥ 7 h/day) |
|
Youth: 1. Leisure computer 2. Leisure video games 3. Leisure television/videos 4. Leisure reading |
Youth: 4 | Youth: typical week, past 3-months | Youth: categorical (none, < 1 h/week, 1-2 h/week, 3-5 h/week, 6-10 h/week, 11-14 h/week, 15-20 h/week, > 20 h/week) | ||||
| 2015 | 6–17 years | Total screen time (television, video games, computer, hand-held devices) | 1 | Average day, single day | Continuous (hours) | ||
| Canadian Community Health Survey – Aging | 2008–2009 | ≥ 45 years | Interview-led, personal interviews that were computer-assisted and assessed by phone | Total sitting time (e.g., reading, watching television, computer activities or doing handicrafts) – based on Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly | 3 | Past 7 days | Categorical (including types of sitting and quantity) |
| Occupational | 1 | Usual day, single day | Categorical (including “usually sitting”) | ||||
| Canadian Health Measures Survey (CHMS) | 2007–2009 (Cycle 1) |
Children: 3-11 years (proxy) - note: for 2007-2009 Cycle 1, children includes ages 6-11 years only. Youth/adults: 12–79 years The survey excludes residents of Indian Reserves, the territories, institutions, certain remote regions, and full-time members of the Canadian Forces. |
Interview-led, personal interviews that were computer-assisted and assessed by phone |
Children: 1. Total sedentary time (accelerometer) 2. Total television or videos or video games 3. Total computer use Youth/adults: 1. Total sedentary time (accelerometer) 2. Leisure computer (incl. tablet) 3. Leisure video + console games 4. Leisure television (incl. DVDs, videos) 5. Leisure reading (paper-based) |
Children: 2 Youth/adults: 4 |
Children: average day, single day Youth/adults: typical week, past 3-months |
Children: categorical (0 h/day, < 1 h/day, 1–2 h/day, 3–4 h/day, 5–6 h/day, ≥ 7 h/day) Youth/adults: categorical (none, < 1 h/week, 1-2 h/week, 3-5 h/week, 6-10 h/week, 11-14 h/week, 15-20 h/week, > 20 h/week) |
| 2009–2011 (Cycle 2) |
Children: 1. Total sedentary time (accelerometer) 2. Total television or videos or video games 3. Total computer use Youth/adults: 1. Total sedentary time (accelerometer) 2. Leisure computer (incl. tablet) 3. Leisure video + console games 4. Leisure television (incl. DVDs, videos) 5. Leisure reading (paper-based) |
Children: categorical (0 h/day, < 1 h/day, 1–2 h/day, 3–4 h/day, 5–6 h/day, ≥ 7 h/day) Youth/adults: continuous |
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| 2012–2013 (Cycle 3), 2014–2015 (Cycle 4) |
Children: 1. Total sedentary time (accelerometer) 2. Total television or videos or video games 3. Total computer use Youth/adults: 1. Total sedentary time (accelerometer) 2. Total self-reported sitting time (IPAQ) in Cycle 3 only 3. Leisure computer (incl. tablet) 4. Leisure video + console games (Cycles 3 + 4 includes passive only) 5. Leisure television (incl. DVDs, videos) 6. Leisure reading (paper + eBooks, does not include reading on computer or Internet) |
Children: categorical (0 h/day, < 1 h/day, 1 to < 3 h/day, 3 to < 5 h/day, 5 to < 7 h/day, ≥ 7 h/day) Youth/adults: continuous |
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|
2016–2017 (Cycle 5), ongoing |
Children: 1. Total sedentary time (accelerometer) 2. Total screen time (television/game console/computer/hand-held devices) Youth/adults: 1. Total sedentary time (accelerometer) 2. Free time computer (incl. tablet, smartphone) 3. Free time video + computer games 4. Free time television (incl. DVDs, movies, internet videos) 5. Free time reading (paper + electronic formats, excludes reading on a computer, tablet or Internet) |
Children: 1 Youth/adults: 4 |
Children: average day, single day Youth/adults: past 7 days |
Children: continuous Youth/adults: continuous |
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| Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth (CHSCY) | 2016 (pilot), ongoing | 1–17 years | Self-administration on-line |
1. Homework (outside of class) 2. Reading 3. Social media use (Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest) 4. Television (movies, videos, YouTube, television shows) 5. Video games 6. Any electronic device while sitting 7. Transportation mode (including passive) |
20 (several multi-part questions) | Past 7 days, daily average | 1–6: categorical, 7: continuous |
| Canadian Internet Use Survey (formerly Household Internet Use Survey) | 1999 | ≥ 16 years | Electronic questionnaire or computer-assisted telephone interview | Internet use (frequency & amount) | 2 | Typical month | Categorical |
| 2000 | Internet use (frequency & amount) | 4 | |||||
| 2001, 2002, 2003 | Internet use (frequency & amount) | 5 | |||||
| 2005, 2007, 2009 | Internet use (frequency & amount) | 4 | Typical month & typical week | ||||
| 2010, 2012 | Internet use (frequency & amount) | 3 | |||||
| Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA) | 2011 – ongoing | ≥ 45 years | Interview-led, personal interviews that were computer-assisted and assessed by phone | Sedentary activities including: games, computer activities, crossword/puzzles, crafts, listening to music, playing musical instruments, reading, visiting with others, watching television, other | 3 | Average day in past 7 days | Categorical |
| General Social Survey – Time Use Survey (GSS) | 1986, 1992, 1998, 2005, 2010, 2015, ongoing |
≥ 15 years Living in private households in 10 provinces |
Interview-led, personal interviews that were computer-assisted and assessed by phone |
Activity recall over 24-h. Derived variables include: 1. Passive travel (car + bicycle + taxi + boat/ferry + airplane) 2. Watching television or videos 3. Reading (online or paper) Note, the GSS also asks sedentary behaviour related questions on other years of the survey. |
N/A – diary | 24-h period | Categorical selection of activity, continuous duration |
| Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children (HBSC) study | 1990, 1994, 1998 | Grades 6 to 10 (8 & 10 in 1994) | Self-administration in-person |
1. Daily television watching 2. Weekly VCR movies 3. Weekly computer games (including arcade, game consoles) |
3 | Usual weekday and weekend day |
1990, 1994, 1998: Television - categorical (none, < 0.5 h/day, 0.5-1 h/day, 2-3 h/day, 4 h/day, > 4 h/day) VCR movies and computer games - categorical (none, < 1 h/week, 1-3 h/week, 4-6 h/week, 7-9 h/week, ≥ 10 h/week) 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014: Categorical (none, ~0.5 h/day, ~1 h/day, ~2 h/day, ~3 h/day, ~4 h/day, ~5 h/day, ~6 h/day, ~7 or more h/day) |
| 2002 | Grades 6 to 10 |
1. Free time daily television (including videos) 2. Daily homework 3. Free time daily computer use (playing games, emailing, chatting, surfing Internet) |
6 (3 x weekday, 3 x weekend day) | ||||
| 2006, 2010 |
1. Free time daily television (including videos & DVDs) 2. Free time video games on computer or games console 3. Free time computer (chatting on-line, Internet, emailing, homework) |
6 (3 x weekday, 3 x weekend day) | |||||
| 2014, ongoing |
1. Free time daily television (including videos, DVDs, YouTube or other entertainment on screen) 2. Free time games on computer, games console, tablet, smartphone or other electronic device (not including active games) 3. Free time electronic device (computers, tablets, smartphones) use for other purposes (e.g., homework, emailing, tweeting, social media, chatting, surfing the internet) |
6 (3 x weekday, 3 x weekend day) | |||||
| Health Promotion Survey | 1985 | ≥ 15 years | Interview-led, personal interviews, computer-assisted and assessed by phone |
1. Passive travel passenger (distance travelled) 2. Passive travel driver |
2 | Average | Continuous (distance travelled) |
| 1990 | Daily activities | 1 | Usual | Categorical with “You sit during the day and do not walk about very much” | |||
| Joint Canada/United States Survey of Health (JCUSH) | 2002–2003 | ≥ 8 years | Interview-led, personal interviews, computer-assisted and assessed by phone | Daily activities or work habits | 1 | Past 3 months | Categorical with “Usually sit during the day and don’t walk around very much” |
| National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth (NLSCY) | 1994–1995, 1996–1997 |
Proxy: 0–9 years Self-reported: ≥ 10–11 year olds |
Interviewer-administered in-person with computer-assisted interview |
Proxy 1. Leisure computer or video games 2. Leisure television or videos 3. Leisure reading (by adult and child) 4. Homework Self-report 1. Leisure computer or video games 2. Leisure television 3. Leisure reading |
Proxy: variable Self-report: variable |
Variable |
Proxy: mix of categorical and continuous Self-report: mix of categorical and continuous |
| 1998–1999 |
Proxy: 0–9 years Self-reported: ≥ 10–11 year olds |
Proxy 1. Leisure television or videos 2. Leisure reading (by adult and child) 3. Homework 4. Writing Self-report 1. Leisure computer or video games 2. Leisure television 3. Leisure reading |
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| 2000–2001 |
Proxy: 0–9 years Self-reported: ≥ 10–11 year olds |
Proxy 1. Leisure computer 2. Leisure reading (by adult and child) Self-report youth (age dependent) 1. Homework 2. Transportation mode 3. Computer or video games 4. Leisure writing 5. Leisure reading 6. Television and videos |
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| 2002–2003, 2004–2005 |
Proxy: 0–9 years Self-reported: ≥ 10–11 year olds |
Proxy 1. Leisure computer 2. Leisure reading (by adult and child) 3. Leisure television or videos Self-report youth (age dependent) 1. Computer use 2. Internet use 3. Leisure writing 4. Leisure reading television, videos or video games |
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| 2006–2007, 2008–2009 |
Proxy: 0–9 years Self-reported: ≥ 10–11 year olds |
Proxy 1. Leisure computer 2. Leisure reading (by adult and child) 3. Leisure television, videos or video games Self-report youth (age dependent) 1. Computer use 2. Internet use 3. Leisure writing 4. Leisure reading 5. Television, videos or video games |
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| National Population Health Survey (NPHS) |
Cross-sectional & longitudinal: 1994–1995, 1996–1997, 1998–1999 Longitudinal only: 2000–2001, 2002–2003, 2004–2005, 2006–2007, 2008–2009, 2010–2011 |
All ages (only those ≥ 12 years asked sedentary questions) | Cycle 1: Interviewer-administered in-person with computer-assisted interviewing | 1. Daily activities or work habits | Usual day over past 3 months | Categorical with “Usually sit during day and do not walk about very much” response option | |
| Cycle 2+: Interview-led, personal interviews, computer-assisted and assessed by phone | |||||||
| National Household Survey (NHS) | 2014 |
Children: 4–11 years Youth: 12–17 years |
Self-administration in-person or on-line |
1. Television, movies or videos (including YouTube) 2. Leisure computer, tablet, smartphone, video games |
2 | Past 7 days, average single day | Categorical |
| Survey of Young Canadians – Child | 2010–2011 | 1–9 years | Interview-led, personal interviews, computer-assisted and assessed by phone |
1. Leisure computer use 2. Television, videos or video games 3. Leisure reading |
4 | On average, single day | Categorical |
| Youth Smoking Survey | 2002 | Grades 5–9 | Self-administration in-person |
1. Computer or video games 2. Television or videos 3. Leisure reading |
3 |
Computer and video games: last 12 months Television and reading: average day |
Categorical |
aTime spent playing video games was not consistently assessed in all age groups; from 2000 to 2001 to 2008 the questions were only asked to those under the age of 20, in 2009 and 2010 the questions were asked only to those under 25, whereas from 2011 to 2016 the questions were asked to all respondents