Adapting and Validating an Arabic Version of The Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ) to Measure Physical Activity in Primary Health Care in Lebanon

Abstract

Physical inactivity is a growing public health concern in Lebanon, yet validated tools for assessing physical activity in culturally specific contexts remain limited. This study aimed to validate a newly adapted Arabic version of the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ-LA) to improve its applicability within the Lebanese adult population. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 103 Lebanese adults. Participants completed the GPAQ-LA and the Simple Lifestyle Indicator Questionnaire (SLIQ). Descriptive statistics summarized activity levels across domains (work, transport, recreation), while Spearman’s correlation assessed convergent validity between GPAQ and SLIQ. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests examined group differences, and linear regression was used to explore demographic predictors of activity. GPAQ-LA demonstrated strong convergent validity with the SLIQ, showing significant positive correlations for both moderate (ρ = 0.745, p < .001) and vigorous (ρ = 0.881, p < .001) physical activity. Moderate activity was more frequently reported than vigorous activity across all domains. Age was a significant predictor of vigorous activity (B = – 23.92, p < .001), while gender and region showed non-significant trends. Nonparametric tests confirmed significant group differences by age and gender for vigorous activity, and by age for moderate activity. The multiple regression showed negative but non-significant relationship between smoking and Physical Activity (PA) and this may be due to different types of activities. The GPAQ-LA was found to be a valid and culturally relevant tool for assessing physical activity in Lebanese adults. It can effectively distinguish differences across demographic groups and shows strong alignment with an established self-report instrument. Its integration into primary health care centers and national surveillance efforts is recommended to inform targeted physical activity interventions in Lebanon