Operationalization: Selecting our measuring instruments

We have chosen to use the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire and the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale as tools to measure our independent variable and dependent variable respectively.

Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire (GLTEQ)

The Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire (GLTEQ) is a self-report measure of the frequency of light-intensity, moderate-intensity, and vigorous-intensity leisure-time physical activity. Weekly MET values can be estimated by following the Godin and Shepard (1997) calculations.

• Target population: Adults; 18 to 65 years
• Burden: 4 questions; 7-day recall of leisure-time physical activity
• Validity: Construct validity is supported via predictive, concurrent, and convergent validity evidence.
• Reliability: Acceptable to strong test re-test reliability (1 week)

We have chosen to use the Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire as it has been used in previous studies investigating similar relationships between physical exercise and emotional well-being. In addition, good test–retest reliability has been found in past studies with coefficients ranging between .74 and .80 (Joseph, Royse, Benitez & Pekmezi, 2013). This measure has also been validated with objective measures of physical activity such as accelerometers as well as other subjective physical activity measures such as the 7-day physical activity recall.

Figure 1: Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire

Scoring of the Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire

For each category of exercise (Strenuous, Moderate, Light), the number of times it is done is multiplied by 9, 6 and 3 respectively. These scores are then added up to obtain a weekly leisure activity score. An example of the scoring can be seen in Figure 2.

Figure 2: Scoring of the Godin Leisure Time Questionnaire

Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS)

The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale was developed to enable the monitoring of mental wellbeing in the general population and the evaluation of projects, programmes and policies which aim to improve mental wellbeing. WEMWBS is a 14 item scale with 5 response categories, summed to provide a single score ranging from 14-70. The items are all worded positively and cover both feeling and functioning aspects of mental wellbeing.

Though previous studies found used various assessments, some of these tools were not selected due to their low reliability and variation in the constructs measured. In addition the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-being scale has robust psychometric properties are robust and it is sensitive to the changes that occur in well-being promotion projects (Brown, 2012)

Various studies have shown that WEMWBS is normally distributed in the general population (although there is often a slight tail at the lower end) and hence can be used in parametric analyses. All the validation studies have shown WEMWBS to be easy to complete, and to capture concepts of wellbeing familiar to general and minority populations

Figure 3: Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale

Scoring of the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS)

Each of the 14 item responses in WEMWBS are scored from 1 (none of the time) to 5 (all of the time) and a total scale score is calculated by summing the 14 individual item scores . The minimum score is 14 and the maximum is 70.  

References

Godin, G., Shephard, R. J.. (1997) Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. 29 June Supplement: S36-S38.

Joseph, R. P., Royse, K. E., Benitez, T. J., & Pekmezi, D. W. (2013). Physical activity and quality of life among university students: Exploring self-efficacy, self-esteem, and affect as potential mediators. Qual Life Res Quality of Life Research, 23(2), 659-667. doi:10.1007/s11136-013-0492-8

Stewart-Brown, S. (2012). The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS): Performance in Different Cultural and Geographical Groups. Mental Well-Being, 133-150. doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5195-8_7