Validation of YPAS-PT – The Yale Physical Activity Survey for Portuguese Older People

This study aimed to translate, adapt and validate the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) to Portuguese culture in order to assess the level of physical activity in a country with one of the world’s highest percentage of senior citizens. Permission was obtained from the original authors and translated according to WHO guidelines. Validation included 471 older adults (70.3% women; 74.9±6.5 years), covering Criterion Validity, through Spearman’s rho, with a cross-reference standard, by accelerometry with 96 subjects; and Reliability comprising Internal Consistency through Cronbach’s alpha with 471 subjects, and Temporal Stability through Intraclass Correlation Coefficient involving 30 subjects. YPAS-PT appeared suitable and relevant with low-to-moderate levels for all psychometric parameters. Significant correlations were found for all variables, including accelerometer data ranging from 0.201 to 0.452 (p<0.001). Internal consistency (α≥0.835) and temporal stability (ICC>0.75) demonstrated high reliability. The YPAS-PT is a valid instrument to assess Physical Activity patterns of Portuguese older adults, allowing record low-intensity activities typical of sedentary behavior, which is often excluded from other Physical Activity assessment tools. The study has concluded that the Portuguese version of YPAS (i.e., YPAS-PT) is a valid instrument to assess PA patterns of Portuguese older adults for research and social interventions.