Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #111058

Daheia Barr-Anderson, MSPH, Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland College Park, 15461 Arbory Way, Laurel, MD 20707, 301-604-0707, dbarranderson@yahoo.com, Deborah Rohm Young, PhD, Department of Kinesiology, University of Maryland, College Park, HHP, College Park, MD 20742, Joel Gittelsohn, PhD, Department of International Health, Division of Human Nutrition, Johns Hopkins University, 615 North Wolfe Streee, Baltimore, MD 21205, Stuart J. Cohen, EdD, Canyon Ranch Endowed Chair, University of Arizona, College of Public Health, P.O. Box 245163, Tucson, AZ 85724-5163, Jared B. Jobe, PhD, Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Applications, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2 Rockledge Center, MSC 7936, 6701 Rockledge Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, Dianne Neumark-Sztainer, PhD, MPH, Division of Epidemiology, University of Minnesota, 1300 South Second Street, Ste. 300, Minneapolis, MN 55454, James F. Sallis, PhD, Psychology, San Diego State University, 6363 Alvarado Court, Ste. 250, San Diego, CA 92120, Ruth Saunders, PhD, Department of Health Promotion and Education, University of South Carolina, Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, Columbia, SC 29208, and Larry S. Webber, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, Tulane University School of Public Health & Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St., 20th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112.

The Trial of Activity for Adolescent Girls (TAAG), a multi-center field trial of 36 middle schools, utilizes a social ecological model as the basis of multi-level interventions to reduce the decline in physical activity among adolescent girls. Environmental and individual-level factors are targeted constructs for the intervention. PURPOSE: To explore the association of psychosocial factors with adolescent girls' participation in structured physical activity. METHODS: 2,791 sixth graders (mean age 11.8 years; 44% White, 24% African American, 20% Latina) from six states in the US completed previously validated surveys to assess involvement in sports and activity classes/lessons inside and outside of school and psychosocial factors (self-efficacy, physical activity enjoyment, PE enjoyment, and perceived attitudes of teachers and students towards girls being physically active). Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association of these psychosocial factors with girls' participation in structured physical activity. RESULTS: 39% of the sample engaged in school-based activities and 86% in non-school-based activities. Across location, common activities were basketball (44%), cheerleading (41%), and swimming (39%). When controlling for socioeconomic status, field site location, and race/ethnicity, girls with a higher self-efficacy (OR=3.9, CI=1.9-7.7) and higher PE enjoyment (OR=1.8, CI=1.1-2.8) were more likely to participate in any structured physical activity. PA enjoyment and perceived attitudes were not significant factors. CONCLUSION: Results suggest that girls' participation in structured physical activity programs could be enhanced by increasing their self-efficacy and enjoyment of PE class.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

• Identify the role several psychosocial factors play in determining the involvement of middle school aged girls in structured physical activity.
• State hypotheses about how the results can be used to design more effective physical activity intervention programs for adolescent girls.
• List regional and racial differences in the type of physical activity middle school aged girls regularly engage.

Keywords: Adolescents, Physical Activity

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.