| Summary: | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study investigated the relation between social desirability and self-reported physical activity in web-based research.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>A longitudinal study (<it>N </it>= 5,495, 54% women) was conducted on a representative sample of the Dutch population using the Marlowe-Crowne Scale as social desirability measure and the short form of the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Social desirability was not associated with self-reported physical activity (in MET-minutes/week), nor with its sub-behaviors (i.e., walking, moderate-intensity activity, vigorous-intensity activity, and sedentary behavior). Socio-demographics (i.e., age, sex, income, and education) did not moderate the effect of social desirability on self-reported physical activity and its sub-behaviors.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study does not throw doubt on the usefulness of the Internet as a medium to collect self-reports on physical activity.</p>
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