Abstract
BackgroundPhysical activity (PA) rates decline precipitously during the high school years and are consistently lower among adolescent girls than adolescent boys. Due to cultural barriers, this problem might be exacerbated in female Iranian adolescents. However, little intervention research has been conducted to try to increase PA participation rates with this population. Because PA interventions in schools have the potential to reach many children and adolescents, this study reports on PA intervention research conducted in all-female Iranian high schools.MethodsA randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of two six-month tailored interventions on potential determinants of PA and PA behavior. Students (N = 161) were randomly allocated to one of three conditions: an intervention based on Pender's Health Promotion model (HP), an intervention based on an integration of the health promotion model and selected constructs from the Transtheoretical model (THP), and a control group (CON). Measures were administered prior to the intervention, at post-intervention and at a six-month follow-up.ResultsRepeated measure ANOVAs showed a significant interaction between group and time for perceived benefits, self efficacy, interpersonal norms, social support, behavioral processes, and PA behavior, indicating that both intervention groups significantly improved across the 24-week intervention, whereas the control group did not. Participants in the THP group showed greater use of counter conditioning and stimulus control at post-intervention and at follow-up. While there were no significant differences in PA between the HP and CON groups at follow-up, a significant difference was still found between the THP and the CON group.ConclusionThis study provides the first evidence of the effectiveness of a PA intervention based on Pender's HP model combined with selected aspects of the TTM on potential determinants to increase PA among Iranian high school girls.
Highlights
Physical activity (PA) rates decline precipitously during the high school years and are consistently lower among adolescent girls than adolescent boys
There was a statistically significant increase in the number of participants in both THP and Health Promotion model (HP) groups who progressed through the stages from baseline to follow-up (Friedman X2 (2) = 49.6, 2 p < .001, and X2 (2) = 43.1, p = 0 .001), whereas limited progression occurred in the control group (X2 (2) = 1.90, p = .38)
It was hypothesized that an integrated model that included the stages of change and two behavioral processes from the transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM) in conjunction within the health promotion model (HPM) would result in greater increases in PA related cognitions and PA behavior
Summary
Physical activity (PA) rates decline precipitously during the high school years and are consistently lower among adolescent girls than adolescent boys. In a study of Iranian adolescents, only 36% of girls (12–17 years) compared to 61.5% boys were at adoption stages of PA indicating that they were achieving PA recommendations [7]. Due to such low reported rates of PA, this cultural group warrants intervention research designed to increase participation in regular PA. Female Iranian adolescents face unique cultural challenges that make achieving adequate levels of PA for health benefits even more difficult. Such challenges include few to no expectations that Iranian women do any exercise (even bicycling which precludes many chances for PA from transportation). The combination of cultural limitations and physical inactivity in adolescent girls in general make research into effective PA interventions with female Iranian adolescents important
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