173348 Factors associated with tweens' intentions for sustaining participation in an innovative physical activity program

Monday, October 27, 2008

Rita DeBate, PhD, MPH, CHES , Florida Prevention Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Robert J. McDermott, PhD , Florida Prevention Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Julie Baldwin, PhD , Florida Prevention Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Carol A. Bryant, PhD , Florida Prevention Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Anita Courtney, MS, RD , Chair, Tweens Nutrition and Fitness Coalition, Public Health Consultant, Lexington, KY
David Hogeboom, MSPH , Florida Prevention Research Center, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Jen Nickelson, PhD, RD , Department of Health Science, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL
Leah M. Phillips, MPH , University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Moya Alfonso, MSPH, PhD , Jiann Ping Hsu College of Public Health, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA
Participation in free-time play, including individual and group activities, is important during adolescence as patterns of physical activity established then persist into adulthood. The VERB Summer Scorecard (VSS) program is an innovative physical activity promotion initiative that offers 9-13 year-olds (tweens) opportunities to be active during the summer months when increased sedentariness can occur, leading to weight gain and a predisposition for further inactivity. This study identified factors associated with intentions to participate in VSS among tweens previously exposed to the program. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,063 middle schoolers using a 39-item survey. A multi-level analysis determined that being female (OR=1.43), having tried a new physical activity (OR=1.59), not currently participating in out-of-school activities but wanting to (OR=2.60), and self-monitoring of physical activity (OR=4.42 to 7.50) were associated with future intention to participate in VSS. Adoption of the VSS program seems to inspire some tweens to initiate and sustain activity. VSS appealed to “tween” girls, an especially important priority audience because of the observed tendency of girls' physical activity to decline during the teen years. Moreover, VSS offered opportunity for trying a variety of games, sports, and action-oriented "fun" tasks for persons not previously predisposed to do so. Additionally, the tangible practice of monitoring physical activity (via the scorecard) appeared to have a favorable impact on intention to participate again in VSS. Implications for school and community based physical activity programs include structures that incorporate trialabilty and observability as mechanisms for increasing likelihood of program adoption.

Learning Objectives:
Participants will be able to: 1. Explain how age and gender influence participation in physical activity among youth. 2. Identify innovative program elements that contribute to interest in youth being physically active. 3. Assess factors associated with youth 9-13 years of age sustaining their participation in physical activity.

Keywords: Physical Activity, Children and Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have participated in the conceptual development of the paper, the preperation of manuscript drafts, the preparation of this abstract, and the development of a final product.
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.