Intervention Effects of "Girls on the Move" on Increasing Physical Activity: A Group Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Limited intervention success in increasing and sustaining girls' moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) underscores a need for continued research. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a 17-week Girls on the Move (GOTM) intervention on increasing MVPA among fifth- to eighth-grade girls. METHODS: This study is a group (cluster) randomized trial, including 24 schools, pair matched and assigned to intervention (n = 12) or control (n = 12) conditions. Participants included 1,519 girls in racially diverse public schools in urban, underserved areas of the Midwestern USA. The intervention included three components: (i) 90-min after-school physical activity (PA) club offered 3 days/week; (ii) two motivational, individually tailored counseling sessions; and (iii) an interactive Internet-based session at the midpoint of the intervention. Main outcome measures were weighted mean minutes of MVPA per week post-intervention and at 9-month follow-up measured via accelerometer. RESULTS: No between-group differences occurred for weighted mean minutes of MVPA per week at post-intervention (B = -0.08, p = .207) or 9-month follow-up (B = -0.09, p = .118) while controlling for baseline MVPA. CONCLUSIONS: Research is needed to identify interventions that assist girls in attaining and maintaining adequate PA. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT01503333.

A Person-Centered Approach to Child Temperament and Parenting.

The aim of this study was to examine how variations in children's temperamental reactivity and mothers' parenting stress relate to parenting behavior. A sample of 3,001 mother-child dyads was assessed when children were 14, 24, 36, and 54 months. Latent profile analysis identified a group of temperamentally "easy" children whose mothers experienced little parenting stress, along with two groups of highly reactive children differentiated by mothers' stress levels. Maternal negative regard over time was highest in the group of reactive children with highly stressed mothers. Mothers in this group also perceived more child behavior problems and had less knowledge of child development. Results are discussed relative to Person × Environment interactions and the complex interplay between parent and child characteristics.

Sources and Types of Social Support for Physical Activity Perceived by Fifth to Eighth Grade Girls.

BACKGROUND: Information is lacking on forms and sources of social support for physical activity (PA) received by adolescent girls during various pubertal stages. Two study purposes were to (a) identify the sources and forms of social support for PA perceived by adolescent girls, and (b) examine associations of pubertal stage and social support with PA. METHODS: A secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial was conducted. Fifth through eighth grade girls (N = 1,519) completed surveys on social support for PA and pubertal stage and wore an accelerometer. RESULTS: Girls in early-middle and late-post puberty most frequently received social support from their mothers. A higher proportion of girls in late-post puberty, compared to early-middle puberty, received social support from nonfamily adults (4.2% vs. 3.0%, p = .019). Girls identifying three sources participated in more moderate-to-vigorous PA than those having fewer sources (t1,512 = -3.57, p < .001). Various forms of social support, except for encouragement, were positively related to moderate-to-vigorous PA. Girls in early-middle puberty reported greater social support than those in late-post puberty (t1,512 = 3.99, p < .001). Social support was positively associated with moderate-to-vigorous PA, while girls in late-post puberty had lower moderate-to-vigorous PA than those in early-middle puberty. CONCLUSIONS: Mothers are important sources of social support for PA. Having more than two sources may result in greater PA. Encouraging girls to increase their PA may not be sufficient. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Efforts are needed from health professionals to prevent any decline in social support for PA as girls advance across adolescence.

Effects of the Girls on the Move randomized trial on adiposity and aerobic performance (secondary outcomes) in low-income adolescent girls.

BACKGROUND: Limited, mixed evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of physical activity interventions on adiposity and aerobic performance in adolescent underrepresented populations. OBJECTIVE: To examine effects of Girls on the Move on body mass index z-scores (BMI-z), percent (%) body fat, and aerobic performance in fifth- to eighth-grade underrepresented girls. METHODS: A group randomized trial, involving 12 intervention and 12 control schools in low-income areas, was conducted. Participants (n = 1519) were low-active girls. The 17-week intervention included (a) a physical activity club, (b) two motivational interviewing sessions, and (c) one Internet-based session. BMI-z was determined from measured height and weight; % body fat was assessed using bioelectric impedance. Aerobic performance was assessed using a shuttle run. Demographics, physical activity (accelerometer), and pubertal development were assessed. Linear mixed models, adjusting for baseline, were used to examine group differences in postintervention. RESULTS: No significant between-group differences in BMI-z existed at postintervention, but % body fat increased less among intervention than control group girls (Mchange = 0.43% vs 0.73%). Aerobic performance decreased less in intervention vs control (Mchange = -0.39 vs -0.57). CONCLUSIONS: Although the intervention positively impacted % body fat and aerobic performance in underrepresented girls, more research is necessary to determine optimal implementation for yielding greater effects.