INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE, 1(4). 323-338 Copyright 9 1997. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. Inc. Development of the Child/Adolescent Activity Log: A Comprehensive and Feasible Measure of Leisure-Time Physical Activity Anne W. Garcia, Thomas R. George, Cynthia Coviak, Cathy Antonakos, and Nola J. Pender The purpose of this studywas to test the utility of a new instrument, the Child/Ado- lescent Activity Log (CAAL). designed to measure children's physical activities in a school setting efficiently, yet comprehensively. At baseline, 459 pm~tieipants (mean age ]2 -,- 1.4. 59% White, 34% African American. 7% other] were recruited to participate in a 2-year study focusing on patterns and predictors of physical activity at critical school transition points. The CAAL was administered dmly for a 1-week period on 6 occasions to this cohort. From the CAAL, information about the pattern of specific activities chosen, average daily duration of activity, and average daily expenditure per kg body weight was obtained. The validity of the log was supported by its ( I ) correlation with Caltrac readings, (2) relation in the predicted direction with a single-ilem measure of typical level of physical activity and fitness indices, and (3) expected changes in exercise patterns over time and by gender. [f future studies corroborate the psychometric properties and ease of administration of the CAAL. its utility in community-based studies is promising. Key words: physical activity, children, adolescents, self-mport, measurement, exercise Anne w, G~cia and Thomas R. George. Division of Kinesiology. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, M], USA; Cynthia Coviak. Cathy Antonakos, and NolaL Pender. School of Nursing, University of Michigan. Ann Arbor, MI, USA. This ~search wa_~ supporLed by the Nation~ |nstit'ate of Nursing Research Gzant P20 NR0"2962. Wc acknowledge the study development and data coitcction assistance of M~u'yAnn Norton Broda. the statistical assistance of David Ronis. and the lechnical assistancc of Karen MeIlmy and Virginia Dieterlc The CAAL and its scorns insu"actions are available from Anne W. Garcia. Correspondence concerning tltis anicle should be sent to Anne W. Garcia, University or Michigan, Division of Kinesiology. 401 Washtenaw Avenue, Ann Arbor. MI 48109-2214.