TY - JOUR
T1 - An overview of "The Active by Choice Today" (ACT) trial for increasing physical activity
AU - Wilson, Dawn K.
AU - Kitzman-Ulrich, Heather
AU - Williams, Joel E.
AU - Saunders, Ruth
AU - Griffin, Sarah
AU - Pate, Russell
AU - Van Horn, M. Lee
AU - Evans, Alexandra
AU - Hutto, Brent
AU - Addy, Cheryl L.
AU - Mixon, Gary
AU - Sisson, Susan B.
N1 - Funding Information:
This article was supported by a grant (R01 HD 045693) funded by the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development to Dawn K. Wilson, Ph.D.
PY - 2008/1
Y1 - 2008/1
N2 - Background: Although school-based behavioral interventions for increasing physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents have been conducted, little evidence suggests that these curriculum-based approaches lead to increases in overall activity outside of program days. The overall goal of the "Active by Choice Today" (ACT) trial is to expand the body of knowledge concerning the factors that influence long-term increases in PA in underserved adolescents (low socioeconmic status, minorities) during their middle school years. Design and setting: An overview of the ACT study design, theoretical framework, process evaluation, and primary hypotheses is presented. The trial involves twenty-four middle schools (1560 6th graders) in South Carolina that are randomly assigned to one of two after-school programs (motivational and life skills intervention, or general health education). Intervention: The intervention integrates constructs from Self-Determination and Social Cognitive Theories to enhance intrinsic motivation and behavioral skills for PA. The intervention targets skill development for PA outside of program days and the after-school program social environment (autonomy, choice, participation, belongingness, fun, enjoyment, support) is designed to positively impact cognitive mediators (self-efficacy, perceived competence), and motivational orientation (intrinsic motivation, commitment, positive self-concept). Main hypotheses/outcomes: It is hypothesized that the 17-week motivational and life skills intervention will lead to greater increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA (based on 7-day accelerometry estimates) at post-intervention as compared to the general health education program. Conclusions: Implications of this innovative school-based trial are discussed.
AB - Background: Although school-based behavioral interventions for increasing physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents have been conducted, little evidence suggests that these curriculum-based approaches lead to increases in overall activity outside of program days. The overall goal of the "Active by Choice Today" (ACT) trial is to expand the body of knowledge concerning the factors that influence long-term increases in PA in underserved adolescents (low socioeconmic status, minorities) during their middle school years. Design and setting: An overview of the ACT study design, theoretical framework, process evaluation, and primary hypotheses is presented. The trial involves twenty-four middle schools (1560 6th graders) in South Carolina that are randomly assigned to one of two after-school programs (motivational and life skills intervention, or general health education). Intervention: The intervention integrates constructs from Self-Determination and Social Cognitive Theories to enhance intrinsic motivation and behavioral skills for PA. The intervention targets skill development for PA outside of program days and the after-school program social environment (autonomy, choice, participation, belongingness, fun, enjoyment, support) is designed to positively impact cognitive mediators (self-efficacy, perceived competence), and motivational orientation (intrinsic motivation, commitment, positive self-concept). Main hypotheses/outcomes: It is hypothesized that the 17-week motivational and life skills intervention will lead to greater increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA (based on 7-day accelerometry estimates) at post-intervention as compared to the general health education program. Conclusions: Implications of this innovative school-based trial are discussed.
KW - Adolescents
KW - Behavioral skills
KW - Intrinsic motivation
KW - Low income
KW - Minorities
KW - Physical activity
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U2 - 10.1016/j.cct.2007.07.001
DO - 10.1016/j.cct.2007.07.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 17716952
AN - SCOPUS:36749101986
SN - 1551-7144
VL - 29
SP - 21
EP - 31
JO - Contemporary Clinical Trials
JF - Contemporary Clinical Trials
IS - 1
ER -