Translation and Validation of the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) Questionnaire for the Elderly in Croatia

Abstract

This research aimed to validate the Yale Physical Activity Survey (YPAS) questionnaire in the context of population of the Republic of Croatia. The research was conducted on 135 participants who are users of four homes for the elderly and infirm in the City of Zagreb. The participants are people over 65 years old, they are Croatian speakers, and they do not have any neurological diagnosis (dementia, Parkinson’s disease and they did not survive a cerebrovascular insult). People who are recovering from a cold or flu or who are unable to move independently are not included in the research. The research used the original YPAS questionnaire, i.e., a list of activities in one part and categories of activities in the other. Physical activity is shown in the average hours reported per week. Calories are calculated for each activity separately, depending on how many kcal/min each activity brings. In this research, the original YPAS questionnaire was used, to examine the levels of physical activity, and the calories for each activity were calculated using a formula. Through the research, the YPAS questionnaire was validated for the Croatian context, and the results showed that participants spend most of their time shopping, washing dishes, and walking. A certain percentage of participants do not engage in any physical activity, which confirmed the theoretical assumptions about the sedentary behaviour of elderly people.