Convergent Validity of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adults: The New Member of the PAQ Family

Background: To accommodate the need for longitudinal physical activity research, we developed the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adults (PAQ-AD). The PAQ-AD is an adult version of the PAQ-C and PAQ-A questionnaires which were developed for older children and adolescents, respectively. Methods: Two studies assessed the convergent validity of the PAQ-AD using a series of self-report tools and direct measurement of physical activity. Results: In the first sample ( N = 247), the PAQ-AD was significantly related to a series of self-report tools ( r = 0.53 to 0.64). In the second sample ( N = 184), the PAQ-AD was significantly related to the self-report tools ( r = 0.56 to 0.63), a physical activity recall interview ( r = 0.24), and to direct measurements of physical activity ( r = 0.26 to 0.43). Conclusion: These results provide preliminary validity evidence for the PAQ-AD and suggest the PAQ “family” of questionnaires might be advantageous for longitudinal research assessing physical activity from childhood to adulthood.