Adaptation and validation of the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) among Czech children

PLoS One. 2021 Jan 12;16(1):e0245256. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245256. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

The study aimed to adapt the standardized Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) into the Czech language and assess its psychometric properties. A forwards-and-backwards translation method was carried out to prepare the Czech PAQ-C version (PAQ-C/CZ), followed by adjustments based on socio-cultural aspects. In the next phase, participants (n = 169) wore accelerometers for seven days. On the 8th day, participants completed the PAQ-C/CZ in school so that it was possible to determine the concurrent validity (correlation between the accelerometer and PAQ-C/CZ data, Spearman's r), internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha), item/scale properties (corrected item-total correlations, CITCs), and factor structure (exploratory factor analysis, EFA) for PAQ-C/CZ. In the last phase, participants (n = 63) completed the PAQ-C/CZ twice on two consecutive school days in the morning to determine the test-retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, ICC; independent sample T-test). The PAQ-C/CZ indicated moderate internal consistency (alpha = 0.77), acceptable item/scale properties (CITCs = 0.29-0.61), and good test-retest reliability (ICC = 0.73-0.94). The EFA findings suggested a single factor model (factor load = 0.32-0.73) for PAQ-C/CZ, with items 2, 3, and 4 contributing low to the total score. Results on concurrent validity showed low but significant association (r = 0.28, p < 0.05) between accelerometer and PAQ-C/CZ data. Considering the study results, the PAQ-C/CZ can be recommended as a tool for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity assessment in large-sample research studies only, but with an emphasis on the interpretation of the correct results.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Accelerometry
  • Adolescent
  • Body Mass Index
  • Child
  • Czech Republic
  • Exercise*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Self Report
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Translating

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the following grants—The First Stage of PAQ-C and PAQ-A Validation (No. MUNI/51/03/2019) and the Physical Activity, Cognitive Functions, and Physical Fitness in Children Aged 10–11 Years (No. ROZV/24/01/FSpS/2018) provided by the Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.