The Role of Peer Support on Vigorous Physical Activity in Underserved Adolescents

Abstract

1031 The increasing prevalence of obesity in U.S. children and adolescents, especially among minority and low social economic status (SES) populations, is a major health threat to our society. Studies indicate a 50% decline in PA for youth between the ages of 6 and 16 years old, with underserved adolescents (minorities, low SES) being the least physically active. PURPOSE: The present study examined the role of peer support for physical activity (PA) on PA in underserved adolescents. METHODS: Twenty-eight students in an intervention school were matched (based on race, percentage on free or reduced lunch program, gender, and age) with 20 students from a control school that did not participate in after-school activities (total sample = 30 females, 18 boys; 10–12 years old; 83% African-American; 83% on free or reduced lunch). The student-centered intervention was consistent with Self-Determination (Motivation) Theory and Social Cognitive Theory in that it emphasized increasing intrinsic motivation and behavioral skills for PA. Intervention adolescents took ownership in selecting PA activities that were fun (i.e., intrinsic motivation) and generated their own coping strategies for engaging their friends in PA (e.g., having a physical activity sleepover). Participants completed measures of peer support for PA (reliability = 0 .89) and a motivational measure of PA (reliability = 0.90). PA was measured over five consecutive days at baseline, during a PA sleepover (n = 13), and post-treatment using Acti Graph accelerometers. RESULTS: Repeated measures analyses, controlling for sex and BMI showed significant increases in time spent in moderate PA (MPA), moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), and vigorous PA (VPA) from baseline to week 4 for the intervention (vs. comparison) group (p < 0.05 for all). Students in the intervention showed a greater increase in PA during the sleepover as compared to post-intervention for MPA and MVPA (p < 0.05 for both). Linear regression analyses including both peer support for PA, motivation for PA, and BMI further demonstrated that social support from peers (R2 change = 0.37) and BMI (R2 change = 0.27) were a significant predictors of vigorous PA during the sleepover (controlling for baseline PA; R2 = 0.79, p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings suggest that peer support for PA may be instrumental for increasing VPA in underserved adolescents.