Simplified Chinese adaptation of the Yale Physical Activity Survey: reliability and validity measurement in mainland China elderly women

Objective To verify the reliability and validity of the simplified Chinese version of the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) scale in the measurement of physical activity of elderly women in mainland China to provide a new standardized scale for evaluating the level of physical activity. Methods Twenty-one healthy elderly women completed all the research procedures. The participants completed the questions on the YPAS and wore an Omegawave Sport Technology®System diagnostic system that recorded maximum oxygen uptake and the adaptation index of the energy metabolism system. The reliability of the YPAS was evaluated based on the consistency of the two measurements (pre-test and post-test), and its validity was verified based on the relevant indicators in the Omegawave diagnostic system. Descriptive statistics, intraclass correlation coefficient and Pearson correlation analysis were used. The significance level was set at p < 0.05. Results In terms of reliability, the Pearson correlation coefficient and ICC of the total physical activity time of YPAS ( r = 0.917, ICC = 0.897) was high. In terms of total calories, the Pearson correlation coefficient and ICC of the two test results was high ( r = 0.958, ICC = 0.934). On the YPAS total index, the Pearson correlation coefficient and ICC of the two test was high ( r = 0.930, ICC = 0.920). In terms of validity, there was a moderate correlation between the energy metabolism system adaptation index and the YPAS-total time ( r = 0.472) and a moderate correlation with total calories ( r = 0.472). There was a high correlation between the YPAS-total index and the maximum oxygen uptake ( r = 0.782). Conclusion The simplified Chinese version of the YPAS can measure the level of physical activity and energy metabolism of elderly women in mainland China. It is a reliable tool for measuring the physical activity of the elderly.