Convergent Validity and Test-Retest Reliability of Daily Athlete Health Surveys in Collegiate Athletes.

Abstract

Context: Short daily surveys are common in elite sports to capture psychological outcomes, but there is no information on the surveys convergent validity and test-retest reliability. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the validity and test-retest reliability of daily athlete health surveys in collegiate athletes.

Design: Descriptive study.

Methods: Participants (n = 193, 74 males and 119 females; age = 20.3 [1.4] y) responded daily to sliding scale questions regarding readiness (scored from 0 to 100), fatigue, stress, and sleep quality (-5 [indicating low or poor scores] to +5 [indicating high or "good" scores]). At pre- and midseason times, participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire, Overuse Injury Scale, and the Acute Recovery and Stress Scale. To assess validity, Spearman rho (ρ) correlation coefficients were used to assess the relationship between each athlete health variable and the corresponding validated survey. Reliability and precision were assessed with the intraclass correlation coefficient and the standard error of measurement, respectively.

Results: Daily stress was correlated with the Perceived Stress Scale (ρ = -.40, P < .001); daily sleep quality was associated with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (ρ = -.44, P < .001) and the Athlete Sleep Screening Questionnaire (ρ = -0.46, P < .001), and daily readiness was associated with the Overuse Injury Scale (ρ = -.21, P = .003). Daily fatigue was associated with the recovery (ρ = .37, P < .001) and stress dimensions (ρ = -.36, P < .001) of the Acute Recovery and Stress Scale. All daily athlete health variables demonstrated either good or excellent reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = .85-.94; standard error of measurement = 0.87-4.94).

Conclusions: All daily health variables demonstrated acceptable reliability and precision. Sleep quality and stress were most strongly correlated with the outcome scores of their validated surveys. Fatigue was related to the Acute Recovery and Stress Scale, and readiness demonstrated a weak correlation to the Overuse Injury Scale. Clinicians should feel comfortable using these single-question daily health surveys in clinical care but exert caution when using readiness, and fatigue.