Refining a physical activity promotion model through formative evaluation: The Good Fit Project for multiethnic urban adolescents

The Good Fit Project is designed to test an intervention model of physical activity (PA) promotion among multiethnic urban adolescents. The original model, grounded in principles of adolescent development and social-ecological models, predicated that: (1) the degree to which PAs are a “good fit” for individuals varies by physiological, environmental, and psychosocial characteristics of both the individual and the specific PA and (2) young adolescents possess the developmental skills required for self-assessment and the desire to engage in activities that enable them to demonstrate competence. Through extensive formative evaluation with multiethnic urban adolescents and adult afterschool program leaders we examined the applicability and salience of the model for the target population. The original “Good Fit” concept likened finding PAs that fit one's personal/social/environmental strengths and constraints to finding jeans that fit one's body and personal preferences, emphasizing that just as jeans have different cuts/styles, different PAs have different physiological, environmental and psychosocial “profiles.” However, adolescents challenged the idea of PA profiles and identified a preferred approach for maximizing good fit: altering the PA or environment to suit their needs, skills and preferences. Important gender differences emerged regarding these processes, including the role of competence in PA. Social class differences between program leaders and adolescents emerged as important issues and potential barriers for promoting PAs that appeal to our audience. This presentation integrates data from qualitative (focus group, interview) and quantitative (survey) research to describe and support the revised Good Fit model and demonstrate the model's application for adolescent PA intervention.