Validity and Reliability of Proximity Detection with Bluetooth-Enabled Accelerometers among Adults |
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| Authors: | Deirdre Dlugonski Aaron P Wood Katrina D DuBose Patrick Rider Alexander M Schoemann |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA;2. Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USAdee.dlugonski@uky.edu;4. Department of Kinesiology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9686-8741;5. Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTIntroduction: This study examined the concurrent validity and inter-pair reliability of the proximity detection function on Bluetooth-enabled accelerometers across manufacturer-specified ranges. If valid, this method could be used for objectively measuring shared physical activity participation. Method: Thirty-six dyads aged 21.6 (2.1) years wore two sets of Bluetooth-enabled accelerometers initialized as beacons and receivers to compare accelerometer-measured proximity detection to direct observation under 11 different controlled and free-living conditions. Results: The proportion of minutes in which proximity was detected differed across conditions (p < .001), with the highest proportions in the controlled conditions (.77–1.0). Among the free-living conditions, the different room (.73 ± .20) condition had the highest proximity detection proportions. There were no differences in the proximity detection across accelerometer pairs (p = .265). Conclusion: Proximity detection with Bluetooth-enabled accelerometers was reliable and had the highest detection rates under the controlled treadmill walking conditions. Despite limitations, using Bluetooth-enabled accelerometers is a promising approach for measuring shared physical activity. |
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| Keywords: | Shared physical activity measurement objective co-participation physical activity |
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![ORCID Icon]({"type":"image","src":"/templates/jsp/images/orcid.png"} "ORCID Icon")
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9686-8741;5. Department of Psychology, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, USA