Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire

Activity component(s) assessed: Leisure and home/household Time frame of recall: Past 12 mo Original mode of administration: Interviewer-administered Primary source of information: Dr. David R. Jacobs, Jr.; Division of Epidemiology; University of Minnesota; 1300 South 2nd Street, Suite 300; Minneapolis, MN 55454-1015 Primary reference: Taylor, H. L., D. R. Jacobs Jr., B. Shucker, J. Knudsen, A. S. Leon, and G. DeBacker. A questionnaire for the assessment of leisure-time physical activities. J. Chron. Dis. 31:741-755, 1978. RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY STUDIES Tables 27,28 Table Reprinted by permission of the publisher from Taylor, H. L., D. R. Jacobs, Jr., B. Shucker, J Knudsen, A. S. Leon, and G. DeBacker, A questionnaire for the assessment of leisure-time physical activities. J. Chronic Dis. 31:741-775, 1978. Copyright 1978 by Elsevier Science Inc. INSTRUCTIONS The Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire consists of a list of 63 sports, recreational, yard, and household activities. The participant is instructed to report whether or not they performed the activity in the last 12 mo. The interviewer verifies any “yes” responses and asks the participant to “Tell me in which months you performed them,” followed by “the average number of times/month” and“the average time you spent at the activity each time you performed it” (12). Specific coding instructions, including comments on interview technique, a sample introduction, sample instruction, standardized times for activities, and comments on the coding of specific activities are included below by permission of the publisher from Taylor, H. L., D. R. Jacobs Jr., B. Shucker, J. Knudsen, A. S. Leon, and G. DeBacker. A questionnaire for the assessment of leisure-time physical activities. J. Chronic Dis. 31:741-775, 1978. Copyright 1978 by Elsevier Science Inc. NOTES FOR INTERVIEWERS USING THE LEISURE-TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY QUESTIONNAIRE Interview Technique The administration of the physical activity questionnaire requires that special attention be paid to interviewing technique to limit bias in the data and to prevent the interview from becoming ponderous and irritating for both the participant and the interviewer. It is difficult for most people to remember what they did the previous year, especially when it comes to an activity such as walking. Some participants tend to give up and do not try to make an estimate. Other participants take the task very seriously and try too hard, dragging out the interview unnecessarily. As an interviewer, you should establish rapport during the introduction phase, exchanging a few pleasantries. Stressing the importance of the data can be achieved by emphasizing keywords. Instructions should be given in a slow, clear manner. From this point on you should take the initiative and set and maintain the pace in a very matter of fact way. Extraneous talk should be avoided. Although a participant should not be hurried, if he is spending undue time trying to recall detail, you should interrupt with “Remember, we're not interested in an average or an estimate or an exact time” or an“In general what would you say?.” If a participant rambles you should politely cut in and remind him that you are interested in months and average times. For any participant, challenge anything that seems exaggerated. Example. A participant states that he swims 1 h/wk at the YMCA. Make sure that the hour does not include changing time and socializing. In fact, the actual swimming time may be only 20 min. If a participant states that he performs an activity more than 8 times/mo (which would average twice a week), translate it into weeks to verify it. Example. Participant states he plays softball 16 times/mo. The interviewer should state “On the average, you play softball 4 times a week.” If a participant says he does something during the summer months, do not assume which months he means. Probe by asking “Which months are you referring to?” It is known that people tend to overestimate time spent at a particular activity. If a participant says “2 or 3 h,” record 2. If the range given is large, “5-10 times,” ask that he or she try to be more specific. If an activity is performed very frequently,“number of times/mo” may be a difficult time reference. Suggest that the participant think in terms of number of times per week. If an outdoor activity is performed every month, probe “Is your activity the same in summer as in winter?” Expect that an average interview will last 10-20 min. Your goal is to get estimates as accurate as possible while maintaining a moderate-to-brisk, interesting pace. The more experience you get interviewing, the easier these techniques will be. Hearing tapes of your own interviews would be extremely helpful in developing style. Plan to interview and record at least six respondents (staff members are fine) as practice. Evaluate your style and how a situation might have been handled differently-perhaps more information needed, an unchallenged questionable response, or a little faster pace, etc. Sample Introduction Science does not yet have all the answers regarding the relationship between physical activity and coronary heart disease. It is very important that we collect physical activity data for each participant. We use this form and will ask you to make the best estimate you can in answering the questions. Sample Instruction In this column we have listed different kinds of physical activities(point). In this column you checked whether you did or did not perform an activity in the last year. Is that right? So these activities with a check in the “Yes” column (point) are activities that you performed sometime between now and last June (appropriate month). For each of these activities, I'd like you to tell me in which months you performed them(point), then I'd like the average number of times per month (point) and, finally, the average time you spent at the activity each time you performed it. Optional For example, suppose you had checked backpacking. First you would give the months. Let's say July and August. Then you would tell me the average number of times per month. If it was once in July and 3 times in August, you would tell me twice. Then you would tell me the average time you spend at the activity each time you backpacked. This may sound confusing, but once we start a routine, it will be quite easy. (A positive attitude and manner here is very important.) For the first one or two activities checked, you will have to go through the steps verbatim. Example. “You've checked that you've done backpacking. In which months did you backpack? What was the average number of times each month?,” etc. After this you should strive for word economy and just use words or phrases, rather than entire sentences. Pointing with a pen helps. Example. Sailing. Months? Average times per month? Time per occasion? Once the routine is well established, after starting the activity, a nod of the head and pointing with a pen should elicit a response. Activities Several activities will require special probing or clarifying comments for each participant, no matter how the first column has been checked. A definition has been written for each of the activities. You should be familiar with all of these. With the exception of the categories mentioned below, you need not define activities unless a participant has a question. For situations in which walking is done from point to point requiring continuous walking for 10 min or more, these are requested as separate items. Note that time of walking during working hours is not wanted, except for long breaks, such as lunch. For using stairs instead of an elevator, start“For this one activity we will consider your choice of stairs or an elevator at any time, even during your work day.” Then probe in the routine manner. If a participant has checked home exercise or health club, ask what the specific activities are and record data per instructions in the definitions of activities section. Under home repair activities, state to each participant “Because of space limitations, we couldn't list all possible home activities. Can you think of any major repair or maintenance job which you did last year?” (Note: Under the definitions section are procedures for coding the home repair category.) The lawn-mowing categories require some clarification. If a participant checks walking behind a power mower, state“By this we mean a power mower which has to be pushed or a self-propelled mower.” If pushing a hand mower is checked, state“By this we mean a mower which has no power.” The following activities have constraints (see Definitions and Comments on Activities). If any of these activities are checked, probe to be sure that the constraint has been met: Swimming Cross-country hiking Backpacking Bicycling Sailing Standardized Times for Activities To ensure uniformity, we will consider: 4 wk in 1 mo 48 workweek/yr 240 workdays/yr 22 workdays/mo 100 weekend days/year Standard times have been established for the following activities:Table For these activities the questioning format will change, i.e., do not ask how many minutes you spend on the stairs, ask the number of flights and translate into minutes using standard of ½ min/flight, or how many holes of golf, etc. Miscellaneous If the participant has filled out the entire questionnaire, checking months, etc., it will be necessary to validate each activity by reading back to him the information he has put down. Question anything that looks out of the ordinary. Definitions and Comments on Activities Code Title and comment 010: Walking for pleasure. Since this is the most frequently reported activity, each participant should be asked specifically about it. 015: Walking to and from work. Walking from the bus to work, or the parking lot, etc., may be included in this category if the walking is continuous for 10 min or more. Such walking may be repeated in the evening. 020: Walking during work breaks. Include only walking that is not connected with work, such as walks during lunch hour. Walking that is associated with customary performance of the occupation is not included. 030: Voluntarily using stairs when elevator or escalator is available. Ask specifically for the number of trips upstairs. Do not count walking downstairs; count ½ min for each flight (a flight = 1 story). 040: Cross-country hiking. Walking continuously on flat or in hilly terrain without backpack for at least 2 h. Ask for elapsed time and frequency and duration of rest periods and stops for eating. Finally, estimate total time spent walking per occasion. 050: Backpacking. Defined as walking and carrying a pack weighing 20 lb or more containing, for instance, gear and supplies for overnight camping. If the activity does not qualify, record time, etc. under 040. Discount stops for rest and eating, etc. 060: Mountain climbing. Walking trips in which the purpose is to reach a “high point” that takes several hours or days to accomplish qualify as mountain climbing. No distinction between rock climbing or hill climbing is made. Ask the subject to distinguish between actual climbing and rest stops, eating, sleeping, etc. Total time so as to include both up and down time. 115: Bicycling. To work and/or for pleasure. No distinction is made regarding the type of bicycle or the terrain. Ask for actual riding time. The rare individual who engages in medium and long-distance racing should be reported under Other Activities under the title of Competitive Bicycling. Obtain data on practice sessions, include races as practice sessions. 125: Dancing. Ballroom and/or square dancing. Ask for time spent on dance floor. Conditioning Exercises Setting up exercises, special routines for increasing flexibility or strength, running in place for roughly 3 min carried out at home or in the health club should be reported under “Home exercise” or“Health club.” On the other hand, if a participant concentrates his activities in one area such as jog-walk, jogging, running, weight lifting, do not report this under “Home exercise” or “Health club” but under the activity (180, 200, 210). If a participant goes to the YMCA for the sole purpose of playing a game of squash or other games listed in the section headed Sports, please list this activity under the specific game, rather than under activities of “Health club.” If the company that employs the participant offers physical conditioning facilities and exercise routines on company time, these should be reported under “Health club” or the particular activities listed above: 150 Home exercise. Ask what kind of exercise is done. Do not include items listed under other codes. Ask for time spent actually exercising. 160 Health club. Ask what kind of exercise is done at the club. Distinguish between visits for exercise classes and visits to engage in a single specific game (such as volleyball) or specific activity (such as swimming). Report specific activities below. Ask for total time spent in locker room, steam room, etc. 180 Jogging-walking. Ask for time spent in jogging and walking.(Most participants who do this will have a good estimate of the time.) 200 Running. Ask for time spent running. “Running” is defined as continuous running for at least 10 min, using full length strides. Shorter continuous activity is to be reported under jog-walk. 210 Weight lifting. Ask for time spent in the weight-lifting area. The type of weight lifting is not important for the purposes of this question. 220 Water skiing. To obtain time per occasion, ask for the total number of “rides” per occasion. Multiply the number of rides or trips by 5 and record this as the total minutes of activity. 235 Sailing. Only those individuals who sail in racing competition are to be recorded here. Record the number of hours per occasion the participant is either racing or practicing. 250 Canoeing or rowing for pleasure. Record the hours per occasion. Be sure the participant distinguishes riding in row boat from rowing. 260 Canoeing or rowing for competition. Ask for the number of months of training, the number of training sessions per month and the average time per training session. 270 Canoeing on a camping trip. Include the time paddling, whether at bow or stern. Also included are associated activities, such as portage, setting up camp, and maintaining camp. 280 Swimming (at a pool). Distinguish between time spent sitting in the sun by the side of the motel pool (drinking beer or bloody Marys?), time spent “cooling off,” and time spent actually swimming. Was the pool large enough to swim in? Athletic clubs and YMCAs have pools 50-75 ft in length. Verify. 295 Swimming at the beach or lake. Time spent in sitting on the beach or playing with waterball in 18 inches of water is not wanted. Ask if the participant swam out into deep water and how long he/she was swimming in water over the Do not include time spent Swimming while from a to Ask for time actually spent swimming Swimming with a and Ask for time in water with gear in Ask for time spent actually It may to ask the participant to estimate the number of per occasion and roughly how long each actually Competitive racing should be reported under under the Cross-country skiing. Ask the subject for the average of time spent skiing. If a that can be recorded in this section of the or Total time spent at rest periods and socializing. or Ask for time on the then how time is spent walking Report time walking If is for back up the do not report activity. Ask the participant many games or do you on an average or Multiply the number of games times The is time per occasion in Ask for and record time spent on Table Ask for and record total time Ask for number of Multiply the number of by 20 min. The is playing time in For and record time. Ask for the number of Multiply the number of by min. Record the which is playing time in Record the number of Ask for per games are to last 1 min while games last 2 h. Record time. Report play in 1 under the of activities. Record time. Record time. Record time. game Record time. Record time. Record time of Record time. Record time. Record total playing time. the of carrying who a can be reported under Ask for the number of holes 1 ½ for every holes a power clubs in Walking and carrying a power Ask for average time to cut regarding of or rest breaks. time Walking behind a power This with power to only and with power to and Record time to cut with to rest time. hand Record time with to rest time. and of This all activities to maintain an It can be done several times over the Ask the subject to estimate the of time it takes with for rest breaks. in This to the activities to a for It is done only in the and so should not be checked for months. Ask the subject to estimate the time with for rest time. Record the time spent with for rest time. by checking with the of the the Minnesota established a of times/mo the of The for that was at least a 48 h. If the subject an estimate the times/mo he/she is to make sure that estimate is It is that each would be reported check with of the and a standard to be Home Activities This section a number of activities to a large of activities. In the definition of activities given below, other home repair activities are listed in to the A good many home repair require from to several days of work. Such activities may be to a of the year. To it is that all such activities be recorded in 1 month, the to the task should be use 8 for 1 For example, a during his in 8 of work and then a spending on for 10 To the number of days in these activities, assume that it 4 per occasion to the are then 18 that may be recorded under as in with 8 in of or using or power or repair of or or the can be included under this Record time spent in or of or or and or may be included under this Record time spent the of etc., as well as on or may be included under this Report time necessary to the job or of of the that require changing and and and for may be included under this Report time necessary to one or more from Record time spent on in with Record time actually spent or Ask for time spent walking through or through the pool time for both activities. and Ask for time spent in the for large or Record days spent in the Other Activities will be the individual who has spent a large of time on an activity that is not to here. If this time up to 8 during the year, record under asking the participant to give a this activity. Total Activity of activity is by for and activities (12). The and categories are defined below. = for all activities with than or to = for all activities with between and = for all activities with of or Total can be in weeks or days by the total by or (12). Table Reprinted by permission of the publisher from Taylor, H. L., D. R. Jacobs, Jr., B. Shucker, J. Knudsen, A. S. Leon, and G. DeBacker. A questionnaire for the assessment of leisure-time physical activities. J. Chronic Dis. 31:741-755, 1978. Copyright 1978 by Elsevier Science Inc. Walking for STUDIES USING THE QUESTIONNAIRE In to the other have the Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity J. R. Taylor, and J. and of physical activity 2. DeBacker, A. J. Physical activity and physical of A. J. H. Taylor, Leisure time physical activity and relationship to coronary in a The Minnesota J. A. D. R. Jacobs, Jr., J. and J. of the Minnesota Leisure Time Physical Activity J. Chronic Dis. Jacobs, D. Jr., B. J. and A. S. A of physical activity J. H. J. B. and between physical activity and physical in J. Leon, A. D. R. Jacobs Jr., G. DeBacker, and H. of physical and to exercise J. Leon, A. J. D. R. Jacobs Jr., and R. Leisure time physical activity and of coronary heart and the A. S. Leon, D. R. Jacobs, Jr., B. and R. of the Minnesota Leisure-Time Physical Activity J. D. S. A. S. and D. R. Physical activity and L., D. R. Jacobs, Jr., and Leisure time physical activity and coronary heart the Taylor, H. L., D. R. Jacobs, Jr., B. Shucker, J. Knudsen, A. S. Leon, and G. DeBacker. A questionnaire for the assessment of leisure-time physical activities. J. Chronic Dis. 31:741-755, 1978.