An exploration into self-reported inactivity behaviours of adults with an intellectual disability using physical activity questionnaires

Congratulations to Dr. Louise Lynch and colleagues for their new publication entitled “An exploration into self-reported inactivity behaviours of adults with an intellectual disability using physical activity questionnaires” recently published in Journal of Intellectual Disability Research. Full link to the article can be found here.

ABSTRACT

Background
Inactivity is a correlate for adverse health. Adults with an intellectual disability are more inactive than the general population and often present with more complex health issues. Self-reported activity questionnaires such as the International Physical Activity questionnaire short form (IPAQ-SF) and Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity (RAPA) questionnaires are the predominant source of activity information due to their low cost, non-invasive nature, ease of administration and interpretation of results.

Method
Correlates of inactivity among the general and intellectual disability populations were identified through a literature scoping review. Inactivity was measured using the RAPA and the IPAQ-SF. Multiple Imputation Chained Equation (MICE) was used to impute missing data. Using Pearson chi square analyses, relationships between these correlates as well as covariates of age, sex, level of intellectual disability and aetiology and RAPA and IPAQ-SF categories were explored. Logistic regression provided more detailed analyses. Results were summarised using the Systems of Sedentary Behaviour (SOS) framework. Spearman correlations examined IPAQ-SF and RAPA relationships.

Results
Three correlates for inactivity emerged from the IPAQ-SF and RAPA questionnaires. Up after 7am was a correlate for both. Difficulty walking 100yards and epilepsy were additional correlates for inactivity. Weak but significant correlations were seen between IPAQ-SF and RAPA scores.

Conclusion
High inactivity levels are present in adults with an intellectual disability. The IPAQ-SF and RAPA questionnaires are weakly correlated.

CITATION

Lynch, L., McCarron, M., McCallion, P., & Burke, E. (2024). An exploration into self-reported inactivity behaviours of adults with an intellectual disability using physical activity questionnaires. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1111/jir.13184

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