Consequences of Alcohol Consumption: Gender Differences Among College Students

• Published in: Research quarterly for exercise and sport 2016-06, Vol.87 (S2), p.A78
• Main Authors: Sandlin, Judy R, Keathley, Rosanne S, Sandlin, Michael E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; College Students; Gender Differences
• ISSN: 0270-1367; 2168-3824

Because of the importance of physical activity, new exercise products are gaining popularity internationally. Wearable devices, such as pedometers, have gained much attention. However, it is unknown if they each accurately record and report physical activity. For example, although previous validation research with pedometers has been conducted, the Gopher FITstep Pro has not been tested. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the validity of the Gopher FITstep Pro pedometer in a controlled environment and to provide recommendations for placement. Participants (N = 23; Mage = 20 years; 8 women) were recruited from a Southern university. Once enrolled in the study, participants completed a stepcount training protocol. Participants were then asked to wear an elastic belt with 2 Gopher FITstep Pro uploadable pedometers attached and placed over the anterior midline of the leftand right thighs. Prior to data collection, a 20- step test was completed to ensure proper placement and counting accuracy. Participants then traveled a 2-min closed course in a large gymnasium. Each participant selfcounted steps during the 2-min trial. Data were collected over 8 2-min sessions. Twenty-three participants completed at least 1 session with 2 completing 4 sessions, 1 completing 3, and 3 completing 2 for a total of 35 data points. Agreement between self-counted steps and pedometer-recorded steps was analyzed using absolute percent error, Bland-Altman plots, and Pearson product- moment correlations. Participants completed the initial stepcount test at 93% to 103% accuracy (M = 98%, SD = 5%). Pedometer step counts for the right side ranged from 178 to 241 per session (M = 210, SD = 15), and for the leftside, they ranged from 180 to 240 (M = 211, SD = 14). Self-reported step counts ranged from 178 to 240 (M = 209, SD = 14). Right-side mean percent difference across 35 data points was 28.57% to 4.89% (M = 0.74%, SD = 2.50%), and the left-side mean percent difference was 28.57% to 6.50% (M = 1.28%, SD = 2.55%). Bland-Altman plots indicated agreement. Pearson product-moment bivariate correlations determined that both pedometers were highly correlated with each other (r = .964, p , .001) and with self-reported step counts (right side, r = .937, p , .001; leftside, r = .928, p , .001). The results displayed difference scores within the acceptable range of 3% error as appropriate for controlled conditions. This error difference suggests that the Gopher FITstep Pro pedome