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. 2013 Dec 2;8(12):e82313.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082313. eCollection 2013.

Development of a consensus taxonomy of sedentary behaviors (SIT): report of Delphi Round 1

Sebastien Francois Martin Chastin  1 , Ulf Schwarz, Dawn A Skelton
Affiliations

Development of a consensus taxonomy of sedentary behaviors (SIT): report of Delphi Round 1

Sebastien Francois Martin Chastin et al. PLoS One. .

Erratum in

  • PLoS One. 2014;9(1). doi:10.1371/annotation/40e70c58-2067-4211-a152-22c3ab5534f5. Skelton, Dawn Ann [corrected to Skelton, Dawn A]

Abstract

Background: Over the last decade, sedentary behaviors have emerged as a distinctive behavioral paradigm with deleterious effects on health independent of physical activity. The next phase of research is to establish dose response between sedentary behaviors and health outcomes and improve understanding of context and determinants of these behaviors. Establishing a common taxonomy of these behaviors is a necessary step in this process.

Aim: The Sedentary behavior International Taxonomy project was developed to establish a classification of sedentary behaviors by use of a formal consensus process.

Methods: The study follows a Delphi process in three Rounds. A preparatory stage informed the development of terms of reference documents. In Round 1, experts were asked to make statements about the taxonomy; 1) its purpose and use ; 2) the domains, categories or facets that should be consider and include; 3) the structure/architecture to arrange and link these domains and facets. In Round 2 experts will be presented with a draft taxonomy emerging from Round 1 and invited to comment and propose alterations. The taxonomy will then be finalised at the outset of this stage.

Results: Results of Round 1 are reported here. There is a general consensus that a taxonomy will help advances in research by facilitating systematic and standardised: 1) investigation and analysis; 2) reporting and communication; 3) data pooling, comparison and meta-analysis; 4) development of measurement tools; 4) data descriptions, leading to higher quality in data querying and facilitate discoveries. There is also a consensus that such a taxonomy should be flexible to accommodate diverse purposes of use, and future advances in the field and yet provide a cross-disciplinary common language. A consensual taxonomy structure emerged with nine primary facets (Purpose, Environment, Posture, Social, Measurement, Associated behavior, Status, Time, Type) and the draft structure presented here for Round 2.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Taxonomy development flow.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Taxonomy level one facets and coding labels.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Purpose facet substructure and coding labels.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Environment facet substructure and coding labels.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Posture facet substructure and coding labels.
Figure 6
Figure 6. Social facet substructure and coding labels.
Figure 7
Figure 7. Measurement facet substructure and coding labels.
Figure 8
Figure 8. Associated behaviors facet substructure and coding labels.
Figure 9
Figure 9. Status facet substructure and coding labels.
Figure 10
Figure 10. Time facet substructure and coding labels.
Figure 11
Figure 11. Type facet substructure and coding labels.
Figure 12
Figure 12. Taxonomy mnemonic and example of coding.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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