Convergent validity of the physical activity questionnaire for adolescents

This study assessed the convergent validity of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents (PAQ-A). The PAQ-A is a modified version for high school students of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C). The PAQ-A is a 7-day recall used to assess general physical activity levels during the school year. Eighty-five high school students in Grades 8 through 12 filled out the PAQ-A and other physical activity measures. The PAQ-A was moderately related to an activity rating (r=.73), the Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire (r-=.57), a Caltrac motion sensor (r=.33), and the 7-day physical activity recall interview (r=.59). The results of this study support the convergent validity of the PAQ-A as a measure of general physical activity level for high school students.