Background

Regular participation in physical activity has been shown to provide an array of important health benefits. These include reduced risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, Type II diabetes mellitus, obesity, certain cancers, and some mental health problems. However, despite these benefits, population surveys indicate that less than 25% of adult Americans are physically active on a daily or near daily basis. These surveys also show that, as a group, females are less active than males and that minority groups tend to be less active than whites. Of concern, these gender and ethnic differences in adult physical activity behavior appear to have their origins in adolescence. Cross-sectional studies of young females indicate that physical activity declines steadily during adolescence and that the rate of decline is steeper in non-white than white girls. Consequently, there is a concern that the physical activity experiences provided to American girls, primarily those provided in school physical education, may be inadequate from the standpoint of promoting lifelong participation in physical activity.

Purpose

This study examines 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. DESIGN AND STUDY POPULATION: A two-wave nested cohort experimental deign was used, and school was the primary unit of analysis. Subjects were girls in 24 secondary schools. Schools were matched on demographic characteristics and randomly assigned in equal numbers to intervention or control groups.

Invervention

The intervention, which was targeted at reducing the rate of decline in physical activity in girls, included modifications of physical education, health education, school health services, and school environment. These modifications were 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.

Measurement

Baseline testing was performed during the spring of the subjects' eighth grade year with follow-up tests being administered one and two years later. Dependent variables include self-reported participation in moderate and vigorous physical activity in and outside of school, physical fitness measured as cardiorespiratory fitness, and psychosocial determinants of physical activity including self-efficacy, social influences, beliefs, and intention.

Baseline testing was performed during the spring of the subjects' eighth grade year with follow-up tests being administered one and two years later. Dependent variables include self-reported participation in moderate and vigorous physical activity in and outside of school, physical fitness measured as cardiorespiratory fitness, and psychosocial determinants of physical activity including self-efficacy, social influences, beliefs, and intention.

Project Details

Timeline: 1997 - 2007
Funding Source: NIH / NHLBI
Principal Investigator: Russell R. Pate
Co-Investigator(s): Rod Dishman, Dianne Ward, Gwen Felton, Ruth Saunders, Cheryl Addy, Dwayne Porter

Publications

Dowda M, Pfeiffer KA, Lobelo F, Porter DE, Pate RR. Cardiorespiratory fitness and proximity to commercial physical activity facilities among 12th grade girls. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2012.[pdf]

Saunders RP, Pate RR, Dowda M, Ward DS, Epping J, Dishman RK. Assessing sustainability of Lifestyle Education for Activity Program (LEAP). Health Education Research, 2011; doi: 10.1093/her/cyr111.[pdf]

Pfeiffer KA, Colabianchi N, Dowda M, Porter D, Hibbert J, Pate RR. Examining the role of churches in adolescent girls’ physical activity. J Phys Act Health, 2011;8:227-33.[pdf]

Trilk JL, Ward DS, Dowda M, Pfeiffer KA, Porter DE, Hibbert J, Pate RR. Do physical activity facilities near schools affect physical activity in high school girls?. Health & place. 2011 Mar 1;17(2):651-7. [pdf]

Kelly EB, Parra-Medina D, Pfeiffer KA, Dowda M, Conway T, Webber L, Jobe J, Going S, Pate RR. Correlates of physical activity in black, Hispanic, and white middle school girls. J Phys Act Health, 2010, 7(2): 184-193.  [pdf]

Lobelo F, Dowda M, Pfeiffer KA, Pate RR. Electronic media exposure and its association with activity-related outcomes in female adolescents: Cross- sectional and longitudinal analyses. J Phys Act Health, 2009; 6(2):137-43. [pdf]

Dowda M, Dishman RK, Porter D, Saunders RP, Pate RR. Commercial facilities, social cognitive variables, and physical activity of 12th grade girls. Ann Behav Med, 2009; 37(1):77-87. [pdf]

Sirard JR, Pfeiffer KA, Dowda M, Pate RR. Race differences in activity, fitness, and BMI in female eighth graders categorized by sports participation status. Pediatric Exercise Science, 2008; 20(2): 198-210. [pdf]

Dishman RK, Saunders RP, Motl RW, Dowda M, Pate RR. Self-efficacy moderates the relation between declines in physical activity and perceived social support in high school girls. J Pedatr Psychol, December 1, 2008; 1-11. [pdf]

Pate RR, Colabianchi N, Porter D, Almeida MJ, Lobelo F, Dowda M. Physical activity and neighborhood resources in high school girls. American journal of preventive medicine. 2008 May 1;34(5):413-9.[pdf]

Horn DB, O’Neill JR, Pfeiffer KA, Dowda M, Pate RR. Predicators of physical activity in the transition after high school among young women. J Phys Act Health, Mar 2008; 5(2): 275-285. [pdf]

Dowda M, Dishman RK, Pfeiffer KA, Pate RR. Family support for physical activity in girls from 8th to 12th grade in South Carolina. Preventive Medicine, 2007; 44: 153-159. [pdf]

Pate RR, Dowda M, O’Neill JR, Ward DS. Change in physical activity participation among adolescent girls from 8th to 12th grade. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2007; 4(1):3-16. [pdf]

Colabianchi N, Dowda M, Pfeiffer KA, Porter DE, Almeida MJ, Pate RR. Towards an understanding of salient neighborhood boundaries: adolescent reports of an easy walking distance and convenient driving distance. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2007 Dec;4(1):66. [pdf]

Pate RR, Ward DS, O'Neill JR, Dowda M. Enrollment in physical education is associated with overall physical activity in adolescent girls. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport. 2007 Sep 1;78(4):265-70. [pdf]

Pate RR, Saunders R, Dishman RK, Addy C, Dowda M, Ward DS. Long-term effects of a physical activity intervention in high school girls. American journal of preventive medicine. 2007 Oct 1;33(4):276-80. [pdf]

Hales DP, Dishman RK, Motl RW, Addy C, Pfeiffer KA, Pate RR. Factorial validity and invariance of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) Scale in a sample of black and white adolescent girls. Ethnicity & Disease, 2006; 16:1-8. 

Dishman RK, Hales DP, Pfeiffer KA, Felton GA, Saunders R, Ward DS, Dowda, M, Pate RR. Physical self-concept and self-esteem mediate cross-sectional relations of physical activity and sport participation with depression symptoms among adolescent girls. Health Psychology, 2006; 25(3):396-407. [pdf]

Pfeiffer KA, Dowda M, Dishman RK, McIver KL, Sirard JR, Ward DS, Pate RR. Sport participation and physical activity in adolescent females across a four-year period. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2006; 39:523-9. [pdf]

Dishman RK, Hales DP, Almeida MJ, Pfeiffer KA, Dowda M, Pate RR. Factorial validity and invariance of the physical self-description questionnaire among black and white adolescent girls. Ethn Dis, 2006; Spring; 16(2):551-8. 

Ward DS, Saunders R, Felton GM, Williams E, Epping JN, Pate RR. Implementation of a school environment intervention to increase physical activity in high school girls. Health Education Research, 2006; 21(6):896-910. [pdf]

Ward DS, Dowda M, Trost SG, Felton GM, Dishman RK, Pate RR. Physical activity correlates in adolescent girls who differ by weight status. Obesity, 2006; 14(1):97-105. [pdf]

Saunders RP, Ward D, Felton GM, Dowda M, Pate RR. Examining the link between program implementation and behavior outcomes in the lifestyle education for activity program (LEAP). Evaluation and Program Planning, 2006; 29:352-364. [pdf]

Dishman RK, Saunders RP, Felton G, Ward DS, Dowda M, Pate RR. Goals and intentions mediate efficacy beliefs and declining physical activity in high school girls. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2006; 31(6):475-83. [pdf]

Motl RW, Dishman RK, Ward DS, Saunders RP, Dowda M, Felton G, Pate RR. Perceived physical environment and physical activity across one year among adolescent girls:  Self efficacy as a possible mediator? Journal ofAdolescent Health, 2005;37(5):403-8. [pdf]

Motl RW, Dishman RK, Ward DS, Saunders RP, Dowda M, Felton G, Pate RR. Comparison of Barriers Self-Efficacy and Perceived Behavioral control for explaining physical activity across 1 year among adolescent girls. Health Psychology, 2005; 24(1). [pdf]

Pate RR, Ward DS, Saunders RP, Felton G, Dishman RK, Dowda M. Promotion of physical activity in high school girls: A randomized controlled trial. American Journal Public Health, 2005; 95(9):1582-87. [pdf]

Dishman RK, Motl RW, Saunders R, Felton G, Ward DS, Dowda M, Pate RR. Enjoyment mediates effects of school-based physical-activity intervention. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 2005; 37(3):478-487. [pdf]

Felton G, Saunders RP, Ward DS, Dishman RK, Dowda M, Pate RR. Promoting physical activity in girls: a case study of one school's success. Journal of School Health. 2005 Feb;75(2):57-62. [pdf]

Motl RW, Dishman RK, Saunders RP, Dowda M, Pate RR. Measuring social provisions for physical activity among adolescent black and white girls. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 2004; 64(4):682-706. [pdf]

Motl RW, Dishman RK, Dowda M, Pate RR. Factorial validity and invariance of a self-report measure of physical activity among adolescent girls. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2004; 75(3):259-271. [pdf]

Saunders RP, Motl RW, Dowda M., Dishman RK, Pate RR. Comparison of social variables for understanding physical activity in adolescent girls. American Journal of Health Behavior, 2004; 28(5):426-436. [pdf]

Dowda M, Pate RR, Felton GM, Saunders R, Ward DS, Dishman RK, Trost SG. Physical activities and sedentary pursuits in African American and Caucasian girls. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 2004; 75(4):352-360.  [pdf]

Dishman RK, Motl RW, Saunders R, Felton G, Ward DS, Dowda M, Pate RR. Self-efficacy partially mediates the effect of a school-based physical-activity intervention among adolesce\nt girls. Preventive Medicine, 2004; 38:628-636. [pdf]

Motl RW, Dishman RK, Felton G, Pate RR. Self-motivation and physical activity among black and white adolescent girls. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Jan 2003; 35(1):128-36. [pdf]

Pate RR, Ross R, Dowda M, Trost SG, Sirard JR. Validation of a 3-day physical activity recall instrument in female youth. Pediatric Exercise Science, 2003; 15:257-265. [pdf]

Trost SG, Pate RR, Dowda M, Ward DS, Felton G, Saunders R. Psychosocial correlates of physical activity in white and African-American girls. Journal of Adolescent Health, 2002; 31(3):226-33. [pdf]

Motl RW, Dishman RK, Ward DS, Saunders RP, Dowda M, Felton G, Pate RR. Examining social-cognitive determinants of intention and physical activity among black and white adolescent girls using structural equation modeling. Health Psychology, 2002; 21(5):459-46. [pdf]

Felton G, Dowda M, Ward DS, Dishman RK, Trost SG, Saunders R, Pate RR. Differences in physical activity between black and white girls living in rural and urban Areas. Journal of School Health, 2002; 72(6):250-255. [pdf]

Dishman RK, Motl RW, Saunders RP, Dowda M, Felton G, Ward DS, Pate RR. Factorial invariance and latent mean structure of questionnaires measuring social-cognitive determinants of physical activity among black and white adolescent girls. Preventive Medicine, 2001; 34:100-108. [pdf]

Motl RW, Dishman RK, Saunders R, Dowda M, Felton G, Pate RR. Measuring enjoyment of physical activity in adolescent girls. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2001; 21(2). [pdf]

Motl RW, Dishman RK, Trost SG, Saunders RP, Dowda M, Felton G, Ward DS, Pate RR. Factorial validity and invariance of questionnaires measuring social-cognitive determinants of physical activity among adolescent girls. Preventive Medicine, 2000; 31:584-94. [pdf]