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. 2022 Jan 5;191(4):696–710. doi: 10.1093/aje/kwab294

Table 6.

Validity Coefficients Showing Correlations With True Physical Activity for Total Physical Activity and Activity Intensity Categories as Estimated From the Final Physical Activity Questionnaire, 24-Hour Recalls, Accelerometry, and Doubly Labeled Water–Determined Physical Activity Level Among Participants in the Women’s Lifestyle Validation Study (n = 662), United States, 2010–2012a

Physical Activity Measurement b Spearman’s Correlation Coefficient Validity Coefficient
PAQ2 or ACT24 avg  
and Accelerometer  
(rQR) 		PAQ2 or ACT24 avg  
and DLW PAL  
(rQM) 		Accelerometer  
and DLW PAL  
(rRM) 		PAQ2 or ACT24 avg  and True PA DLW PAL and True PA Accelerometer and True PA
VC QT 95% CI VC MT 95% CI VC RT 95% CI
Q = PAQ2
 Total activity, MET-hours/day 0.39 0.34 0.46 0.54 0.47, 0.62 0.64 0.56, 0.72 0.72 0.64, 0.81
 MVPA, MET-hours/day 0.37 0.33 0.35 0.60 0.52, 0.69 0.56 0.48, 0.66 0.62 0.53, 0.71
 Vigorous activity, MET-hours/day 0.31 0.22 0.17 0.64 0.51, 0.81 0.34 0.26, 0.45 0.49 0.39, 0.61
 Moderate activity, MET-hours/day 0.33 0.28 0.33 0.53 0.44, 0.63 0.53 0.44, 0.63 0.62 0.53, 0.74
Q = ACT24avg
 Total activity, MET-hours/day 0.36 0.32 0.46 0.50 0.43, 0.59 0.64 0.56, 0.73 0.72 0.63, 0.81
 MVPA, MET-hours/day 0.30 0.26 0.35 0.47 0.39, 0.58 0.54 0.45, 0.65 0.64 0.54, 0.76
 Vigorous activity, MET-hours/day 0.25 0.15 0.17 0.48 0.35, 0.65 0.32 0.23, 0.46 0.52 0.38, 0.69
 Moderate activity, MET-hours/day 0.25 0.20 0.33 0.39 0.30, 0.51 0.51 0.42, 0.63 0.64 0.53, 0.78

Abbreviations: ACT24, Activities Completed Over Time in 24 Hours; ACT24avg, average of up to 4 ACT24 measurements; CI, confidence interval; DLW, doubly labeled water; MET, metabolic equivalent of task; MVPA, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity; PA, physical activity; PAL, physical activity level; PAQ2, second physical activity questionnaire; VC, validity coefficient.

a M stands for DLW PAL; Q stands for PAQ2 or ACT24avg; R stands for accelerometer; and T stands for true PA.

b All measurements were adjusted for age only, except for accelerometer measurements, which were further adjusted for wear time.