The proposed investigation will examine the effects of a comprehensive school-based physical activity intervention on physical activity, physical fitness, and psychosocial determinants of physical activity in high school girls. It is known that physical activity levels are lower in girls than in boys and that physical activity declines in both genders during adolescence. The intervention, which will be targeted at reducing the rate of decline in physical activity in girls, will include modifications of physical education, health education, school health services, and school environment. These modifications will be designed to provide girls with positive physical activity experiences though participation in physical activities that are culturally relevant and to provide enhanced social and environmental support for physical activity. A nested cohort experimental design will be used, and school will be the primary unit of analysis. Subjects will be girls in twenty-four secondary schools. Schools will be matched on demographic characteristics and randomly assigned in equal numbers to intervention or control groups. Baseline testing will be performed during spring of the subjects' eighth grade year with follow-up tests being administered one and two years later. Dependent variables will include self-reported participation in moderate and vigorous physical activity in and outside of school, physical fitness measured as cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular strength/endurance, and psychosocial determinants of physical activity including self-efficacy, social influences, beliefs, and intention. This study will provide important information concerning the effectiveness of an intervention that addresses important national health objectives and that would be readily generalizable to secondary schools throughout the nation.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HL057775-02
Application #
2750599
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZHL1-CCT-I (F1))
Project Start
1997-08-01
Project End
2001-07-31
Budget Start
1998-08-01
Budget End
1999-07-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1998
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Department
Other Health Professions
Type
Schools of Public Health
DUNS #
111310249
City
Columbia
State
SC
Country
United States
Zip Code
29208
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Dowda, Marsha; Pfeiffer, Karin A; Lobelo, Felipe et al. (2012) Cardiorespiratory fitness and proximity to commercial physical activity facilities among 12th grade girls. J Adolesc Health 50:497-502
Trilk, Jennifer L; Ward, Dianne S; Dowda, Marsha et al. (2011) Do physical activity facilities near schools affect physical activity in high school girls? Health Place 17:651-7
Pfeiffer, Karin; Colabianchi, Natalie; Dowda, Marsha et al. (2011) Examining the role of churches in adolescent girls' physical activity. J Phys Act Health 8:227-33
Dishman, Rod K; Saunders, Ruth P; Motl, Robert W et al. (2009) Self-efficacy moderates the relation between declines in physical activity and perceived social support in high school girls. J Pediatr Psychol 34:441-51
Lobelo, Felipe; Dowda, Marsha; Pfeiffer, Karin A et al. (2009) Electronic media exposure and its association with activity-related outcomes in female adolescents: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. J Phys Act Health 6:137-43
Horn, Deborah B; O'Neill, Jennifer R; Pfeiffer, Karin A et al. (2008) Predictors of physical activity in the transition after high school among young women. J Phys Act Health 5:275-85
Sirard, John R; Pfeiffer, Karin A; Dowda, Marsha et al. (2008) Race differences in activity, fitness, and BMI in female eighth graders categorized by sports participation status. Pediatr Exerc Sci 20:198-210
Pate, Russell R; Colabianchi, Natalie; Porter, Dwayne et al. (2008) Physical activity and neighborhood resources in high school girls. Am J Prev Med 34:413-9
Pate, Russell R; Saunders, Ruth; Dishman, Rod K et al. (2007) Long-term effects of a physical activity intervention in high school girls. Am J Prev Med 33:276-80

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