Intervention Effects of "Girls on the Move" on Increasing Physical Activity: A Group Randomized Trial. Issue 5 (7th July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Robbins, Lorraine B; Ling, Jiying; Sharma, Dhruv B; Dalimonte-Merckling, Danielle M; Voskuil, Vicki R; Resnicow, Kenneth; Kaciroti, Niko; Pfeiffer, Karin A
• Is Part Of: Annals of behavioral medicine. Volume 53:Issue 5(2019)
• Page Start: 493
• Page End: 500
• Publication Date: 2018-07-07
• Subjects: Adolescents -- Exercise -- Females -- Intervention -- School -- Tailored counseling; Medicine and psychology -- Periodicals; Sick -- Psychology -- Periodicals; Behavioral Medicine; 616.0019
• DOI: 10.1093/abm/kay054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0883-6612

Abstract

Abstract: 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. Abstract : A school-based intervention did not increase moderate-to-vigorous physical activity among low-active, underserved adolescent girls at post-intervention or 9-months post-intervention. Continued work on addressing the needs of this population is needed.