Validity of the Yale Physical Activity Survey for Older Adults

• Main Author: Solomito Pugh, Angela Nickole
• Other Authors: Arnold Nelson
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: LSU 2006
• Subjects: Kinesiology
• Online Access: http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-11162006-182434/

The purpose of this study is to determine the validity of the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) in a population of oldest-old adults residing in Southeastern Louisiana. Methods: Participants were older adults (n=273) in two distinct age groups; 60-81 years of age (YOUNG-OLD) AND 29-103 years of age (OLDEST-OLD). YPAS estimates of physical activity will be compared to physical function as measured by the continuous scale physical function performance test. Results: The OLDEST-OLD demonstrated lower physical function scores and reported less physical activity (and more time sitting) in comparison to the YOUNG-OLD. The correlation between Total Time Summary Index and function in the oldest-old group was very strong (0.30643, p = 0.0003). Bootstrapping resampling showed with 95% certainty that the estimate in the difference in correlation coefficients ranged between 0.49 and 0.01. A significant association was observed between Activity Dimensions Index and function in both the Young-Old and Oldest-old groups at 0.41 and 0.38, respectively. Conclusion: For a given value of function, the expected value of energy expenditure is lower for the 90+ group than for the 80-61 group. In the model for TTSI, both gender and nonagenarian are significant. For a given value of function, females tend to have higher time summary index scores than do the men. Participants in the 60-81 age group tend to have higher TTSI than do the nonagenarian participants. Regarding the ADSI, gender is significant, but oldest-old group is not significant. The analysis of covariance between TEEI and function were found to have a linear relationship. The results of the analysis indicate a main effect of gender such that the female participants of both age groups spend more time in physical activity than do their male counterparts. Males, regardless of age group, participate in a greater amount of intense physical activity than to females across both age groups.