221973 Role of intervention dose on developmental assets in 3rd-5th grade girls: Results from an evaluation study of Girls on the Run

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Kelley Pettee Gabriel, PhD , University of Nebraska Medical Center, Assistant Professor, Omaha, NE
Rita DeBate, PhD, MPH, CHES , Center for Transdisciplinary Research on Women's Health, Department of Community and Family Health, College of Public Health, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Robin High, MBA , Department of Biostatistics, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Elizabeth Racine, DrPH, RD , Health Behavior and Administration, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC
Background: Developmentally-focused youth sport (DYS) programs combine sport and life skills to provide youth with opportunities for developing psychological and physical assets. Intervention dose may be associated with greater asset development. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of intervention dose on psychological and physical assets among 3rd-5th grade girls enrolled in the evaluation study of the Girls on the Run DYS program.

Methods: As part of a larger longitudinal quasi-experimental study, sub-analyses were conducted to evaluate the role of intervention dose among 1,027 participants categorized into one of three intervention exposure groups (never, one, ≥ two times). A 64-item self-report survey measured psychological (self-esteem, body image, and physical activity commitment) and physical (physical activity) assets at pre-intervention. Nested random effects ANOVA models were used to compare pre-intervention assets between groups.

Results: After adjustment for multiple comparisons, white girls who participated in the program ≥2 times had higher self-esteem (p=.027) when compared to never exposed white girls. There was no difference in self-esteem by intervention dose in non-white girls. Physical activity levels in non-white girls who had participated in the program once before were significantly higher than non-white girls who had never participated (p=.009). There was no significant difference in body size discrepancy by intervention dose.

Conclusions: Results suggest that the role of intervention dose on psychological and physical assets varies by developmental outcome. This study provides further evidence to support the effectiveness of Girls on the Run among 3rd-5th grade girls.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe developmental assets associated with DYS programs. 2. Describe the components of the Girls on the Run DYS program. 3. Discuss implications of intervention dose on DYS and physical activity programs.

Keywords: Child Health Promotion, Intervention

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I am an epidemiologist and co-investigator on this study.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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