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Background: Valid and reliable physical activity checklists are needed to assess effectiveness of interventions. This study tested the validity and reliability of the Girls health Enrichment Multi-site Studies (GEMS) Activity Questionnaire., Methods: Two-hundred and ten African-American girls completed the GEMS Activity Questionnaire (GAQ), a checklist of 28 physical and 7 sedentary activities, including TV viewing, inquiring whether performed on the previous day ("yesterday"), and whether usually performed ("usual"). The girls wore an accelerometer (used as the criterion for validity) for three consecutive days at baseline and after a 12-week pilot intervention. Data from 172 girls at baseline and follow-up were usable for this report., Results: Girls were (mean +/- SD) 8.8 +/- 0.8 years old with a BMI of 22.3 +/- 5.9 kg/m2. The intraclass correlation (ICC) examining reliability for the accelerometer across 3 days at baseline for the combined group was fair (ICC = 0.33, P < 0.21). The test-retest reliability coefficient for the 18-item MET-weighted GAQ yesterday scores for the comparison group of girls was 0.57 (P < 0.001). At baseline and follow-up, nonsignificant correlations were observed between 3-day accelerometer counts/minute and GAQ 18-item usual score for both comparison and intervention groups. A significant correlation was found between change in accelerometer minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity (MVPA) between 12 noon and 6 PM and change in GAQ physical activities in the comparison girls (R = 0.35, P < 0.01). The TV-usual score was correlated with 3-day accelerometer counts/minute (R = -0.19, P = 0.02) at baseline for the total sample., Conclusions: Correlations between the GAQ and accelerometer were low, indicating low validity. Although the GAQ may be helpful in describing types of physical activities performed, it needs further development to improve its psychometric properties.

Background: This paper presents reliability and validity analyses of physical activity-related psychosocial questionnaires completed by 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls at baseline and follow-up assessments of pilot intervention studies in the Girls health Enrichment Multi-site Study (GEMS)., Methods: Two hundred ten girls participated in the GEMS 12-week pilot studies and had their height and weight measured, wore an accelerometer for 3 days and completed a measure of their usual physical activity (PA) at baseline and after the 12-week intervention. Subgroups of girls also completed physical activity-related psychosocial measures at these two time points including: (a) self-concept; (b) self-efficacy; (c) outcome expectancies; and d) preferences. Principal components analysis was conducted on the psychosocial measures obtained at baseline. Cronbach's alpha and test-retest reliability were computed. Convergent validity was assessed by correlating the baseline psychosocial measures with baseline physical activity measures and body mass index (BMI)., Results: The following sub-scales were derived: Activity Preference, Positive Expectancies and Negative Expectancies for physical activity. Physical Performance Self-Concept and Self-Efficacy for physical activity were kept as single dimensional scales. Sub-scales, derived from principal components analyses, were Activity Preference, Positive Expectancies, and Negative Expectancies for physical activity. Internal consistency estimates for the various scales were substantial to excellent (0.67-0.85), while test-retest reliability estimates were fair to moderate (0.22-0.56). Correlations between the PA psychosocial sub-scales and measured levels of activity measures showed evidence of convergent validity for the Activity Preference sub-scale, although social desirability may have influenced the significant associations observed., Conclusions: The Activity Preference was a fairly reliable and valid measure. Further studies are needed to examine the utility of activity-related psychosocial measures in interventions to increase physical activity among preadolescent African-American girls.

Background: Smoking prevalence rates remain high among women and smoking initiation has increased for young adults. Little is known about the unique patterns of smoking, risk factors, and correlates of quitting in Black versus White women of child-bearing age., Method: This study examined the relationships among smoking, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), and lifestyle variables among 715 women (43.6% Blacks and 56.4% Whites). Stringent inclusion criteria were used for ethnicity, which allows for distinct comparisons but may reduce generalizability of results., Results: Black current smokers smoked fewer cigarettes per day and reported initiating smoking at a later age than Whites. Current versus never smoking was associated with income, education, and caffeine intake. There was a significant ethnicity by alcohol interaction (at lower levels of alcohol intake Whites were more likely to smoke but at higher levels of alcohol there were no ethnic differences). Former smoking versus current smoking was associated with alcohol intake, education, and pack years of smoking., Conclusions: The results of the study suggest several ethnic differences in smoking patterns as well as several correlates of smoking status. These results have implications for the tailoring of interventions and illustrate the association of other health risk factors with smoking status.