Background & objectives: Measurement of physical activity (PA) is always a challenge. Utilizing self reporting tools has been rather controversial while talking on children physical activity assessment. Present study assesses children’s PA using a self- report checklist and compares it with parent-report method. Methods: In this study that evaluates PA of children using a self-report tool and compares it with the parent-report one, the self-report tool was utilized on 300 grade 5 and 6 students that were selected through multi-stage sampling method. The compiled data were compared with those of parent-reported results. Results: The mean Vigorous physical activity (VPA), Moderate Physical Activity (MPA), and Energy Consumption (Metabolic Equivalent MET) indices in boys were significantly higher than the girls (t-test, p=0.001). Despite the significant difference in MET estimation between the results of self- and parent-reports, there was a significant correlation with a coefficient of 0.9 between the results obtained from two tools. Conclusion: Differences in mean MET estimations between self- and parent-reports are due to the differences in their utilized time periods. This was proved through significant correlation observed between the two estimations. Therefore, self-report checklist can be used as a valid tool for assessment children's physical activity. Yet, comparing the self-report checklist outcomes with the ones from other physical activity assessment techniques is recommended.
Hosseinzadeh K, Niknami S, Hidarnia A. Measurement and Comparing School Children Physical Activity with Two Methods of Self - and Parent Reports. j.health 2015; 6 (3) :304-312 URL: http://healthjournal.arums.ac.ir/article-1-689-en.html