RC Grant Findings: Validation of Physical Activity Recall for Persons With Intellectual Disability

Purpose

Although health disparities between persons with intellectual disability and the general community have been highlighted in recent government documents, adults with intellectual disability have received relatively little attention in health promotion efforts. A limiting factor in these health promotion efforts is a lack of valid and reliable instruments, specifically questionnaires, to conduct large scale studies and surveillance of physical activity among this population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the criterion-related validity and reliability of the Previous Day Physical Activity Recall (PDPAR) (Weston, Petosa, & Pate, 1997) as a measure of activity in a sample of adults with intellectual disability living in community-based settings.

Methods

Sixty-two adults with intellectual disabilities were recruited to participate. Inclusion criteria required that potential participants score at a Level I or II on the Supports Intensity Scale (AAMR, 2004), which indicates the need for limited or intermittent supports to function across a range of life activities. Complete data were available for 59 participants (28 females and 31 males; age = 38.4 ± 10.2). The GT1M activity monitor and the PDPAR were used to assess physical activity in the sample. Participants wore an accelerometer for two consecutive days twice, approximately one week apart, and completed the PDPAR for the second day of wear. In one of the two weeks the PDPAR was completed by the participant with intellectual disability only, in the other week the PDPAR was completed by the participant with the assistance of the key support person.

Analysis/Results

Correlations between surrogate (PDPAR: moderate-vigorous physical activity) and criterion (accelerometry: moderate-vigorous physical activity) were examined using Pearson Product Moment correlations. Accelerometer measured minutes per day of moderate to vigorous physical activity were 64.8 ± 85.0 and 52.3 ± 65.7 for recall with assistance from a key support person and independent recall, respectively. PDPAR minutes per day of MVPA for recall with support were 84.0 ± 124.2 and 121.1 ± 186.0 for independent recall. Correlations between PDPAR and accelerometry for recall with assistance and independently were r = .023 and r = .015, respectively.

Conclusions

These results indicate that adults with intellectual disability have difficulty independently recalling previous day physical activity intensity and this is not improved with assistance from a key support person. It is recommended that objective measures such as accelerometers and pedometers be used to measure physical activity in this population.