Physical Activity Intervention Research Research Articles

Patterns and Correlates of Participation in a Weekly Mass Participation Physical Activity Event, parkrun, in Australia, 2011-2020.

Studying effective interventions already operating at scale is critical to improving physical activity intervention research translation. The free, weekly, timed 5-km run or walk parkrun represents a unique opportunity to examine successful organic dissemination. We conducted an ecological analysis to identify patterns of growth in Australian parkrun participation and their correlates from 2011 to 2020. Outcome variables were (1)weekly counts of walkers/runners and (2)monthly number of new parkrun registrants. We used latent class analysis to characterize growth trajectories followed by logistic regression on class membership. Covariates included parkrun course characteristics (eg,surface type and route), site-level aggregate participant profile (eg,proportion women and mean age), and surrounding area characteristics (eg,population density and physical activity norm). Three hundred and sixty-three parkruns were included (n = 8,388,695 participation instances). Sixty-nine percent followed a low-growth and 31% a high-growth participation pattern. High growth was associated with greater participation by women, concrete/bitumen surface type, lower area socioeconomic status, and greater volunteer heterogeneity. Odds of being in the slow-growth class were higher if the course contained >1km of repetition, higher average age of participants, better average parkrun performance, and higher running group membership. Two patterns of new registration were identified: high start followed by steep decline; and low start, slow decline with similar correlates to participation. Parkruns with a less competitive social milieu may have more rapid dissemination. As a free and regular event, parkruns in low socioeconomic areas have the potential to improve the activity levels of those with fewer resources.

A Comprehensive Planning Framework for Designing Effective Physical Activity Interventions in Youth.

Effective physical activity (PA) interventions are needed to counter the insufficient and declining levels of PA in youth. These require an updated, comprehensive planning framework that consolidates recent decades of progress in promoting PA in young children, children, and adolescents. Effective PA interventions require program planning and conceptual model development that target a coordinated and multilevel set of age-specific PA determinants. Accordingly, this paper presents a comprehensive planning framework that researchers can use to design intervention research to promote PA in youth. The first author conducted targeted searches through Google Scholar to compile PA models/frameworks/guides applicable to youth, a comprehensive set of PA determinants, and determinant-linked strategies to promote PA focusing on review articles. The information was summarized in tables, synthesized, and used to create a planning framework, all of which were reviewed by coauthors. The APPLE Framework for Planning PA Opportunities for Youth (APPLE = Age, PA focus, Place and time, Leverage relevant influences and strategies, and ensure Enjoyable PA opportunities) incorporated all core elements from targeted reviews to create a comprehensive planning framework. The APPLE Planning Framework has a set of questions/prompts that guide the intervention planning process and conceptual model templates to organize planning efforts for designing intervention research. The APPLE Framework for Planning PA Opportunities for Youth will enable researchers to develop comprehensive conceptual models to guide the design of PA interventions for youth. Future research should refine the model and its components to enable PA intervention research in youth to move forward.

Transforming Evidence Into Action: A Commentary on School-Based Physical Activity and Nutrition Intervention Research.

Transforming Evidence Into Action: A Commentary on School-Based Physical Activity and Nutrition Intervention Research.

Exploring correlates of physical activity using the multi-process action control framework: is there a moderating role for mental health?

ABSTRACT It is well established that individuals with poor mental health are less physically active than individuals with good mental health, in part due to symptoms like fatigue and cognitive difficulties. Despite the role of theory in intervention development, limited work has investigated the application of theoretical models of physical activity (PA) to individuals with poor mental health. This study tests a hypothesised model based on the Multi-Process Action Control (M-PAC) framework in individuals with perceived good vs. poor mental health. A secondary data analysis was performed on a cross-sectional sample of 13,881 Canadian adults. Participants completed a survey with items examining mental health, reflective processes (e.g., attitudes), intention, regulatory processes, and moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA). Three quarters (74.8%) of participants self-rated their mental health as good, and one quarter (25.2%) rated it as poor. A moderation model was performed using multigroup path analysis. There were no between-group differences for most direct pathways. The model was partially moderated by mental health. The effects of affective attitudes on intentions (B = 0.28, p < .001) and intentions on regulations (B = 0.36, p < .001) were significantly stronger among those with poor mental health. The strongest total effect on MVPA for the poor mental health group was perceived capability (β = .17, p < .001). The M-PAC framework may be helpful for predicting PA levels among adults with poor perceived mental health. Future research should prospectively test the full M-PAC model to better inform PA intervention research among adults with poor mental health.

Promoting Physical Activity In Rural Men: A Needs Assessment Of Rural Men For A Physical Activity Program

INTRODUCTION: Rural men have higher rates of chronic diseases and are less active than their urban counterparts. Rural men are also underrepresented in physical activity intervention research. This suggests a need for programs tailored to the unique needs of rural men. The aim of this study is to better understand rural men’s preferences for physical activity programs. METHODS: Rural men (N = 131) were invited to complete a needs assessment survey via Amazon’s Mechanical Turk online survey system. Men were asked to rank on a scale of 1 (dislike a great deal) to 5 (like a great deal) various channels of receiving information, such as preferences in delivery platforms and who delivers that information. Men were also asked to select behavior change techniques they would find helpful in a physical activity program (e.g., educational content, demonstrations, encouragement). Lastly, men selected preferred program foci including modes of exercise, health behaviors, and targeted health benefits. RESULTS: The most preferred channels of receiving information were YouTube (mean = 4.1) web (3.7), and mobile apps (3.7). Men rated fitness professionals as the most preferred person to deliver an exercise demonstration video (4.3). Demonstrations/instructions on how to exercise (selected by 75.6%), information on the benefits of physical activity (68.9%), and encouragement to be physically active (67.8%) were the top behavior change techniques selected. In addition, 80.9% reported they wanted an exercise program that had a strength component. Men selected they wanted a program to also focus on diet/eating (selected by 58.8%), sleep (53.4%), and mood/mental health (51.1%). CONCLUSION: We intend to apply this information to develop an intervention tailored to rural men’s unique and specific physical activity needs. We anticipate this program will feature YouTube videos with fitness professionals delivering exercise demonstration videos. This project was funded by a grant from the Graduate and Professional Student Government.

Attempting to Close the Evidence-Practice Gap in Physical Activity Intervention Research: Strategies and Outcomes of a Co-Creative Qualitative Study

It is argued that a gap exists between research evidence and “real-world” physical activity (PA) intervention practice. One potential way to aid the translatability of evidence in this field is for researchers to work actively with the public health practitioners and organisations that run PA interventions to engage in co-creative research. This paper reports the process and strategies used to underpin research co-creation during a recent qualitative PA intervention study, and the outcomes of the co-creative approach from the perspective of the public health organisation involved in the research in terms of providing them with translatable evidence. A range of strategies were reported to facilitate co-creation in the study, such as engaging the public health organisation in the identification of the research question and development of the research protocol and involving them in participant recruitment. The co-creative research approach resulted in timely, relevant, and understandable research evidence for the organisation, which was translatable to their real-world PA intervention practice. The evidence provided them with clear actions and information to plan their future work and objectives. This paper demonstrates how a co-creative research approach can potentially help to close the evidence-practice gap in the PA intervention field.

Fitbit Use and Activity Levels From Intervention to 2 Years After: Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

BackgroundThere has been a rapid increase in the use of commercially available activity trackers, such as Fitbit, in physical activity intervention research. However, little is known about the long-term sustained use of trackers and behavior change after short-term interventions.ObjectiveThis study aims to use minute-level data collected from a Fitbit tracker for up to 2 years after the end of a randomized controlled trial to examine patterns of Fitbit use and activity over time.MethodsParticipants in this secondary data analysis were 75 female breast cancer survivors who had been enrolled in a 12-week physical activity randomized controlled trial. Participants randomized to the exercise intervention (full intervention arm) received a Fitbit One, which was worn daily throughout the 12-week intervention, and then were followed for 2 years after the intervention. Participants randomized to the waitlist arm, after completing the randomized controlled trial, received a Fitbit One and a minimal version of the exercise intervention (light intervention arm), and then were followed for 2 years after the intervention. Average and daily adherence and MVPA were compared between the 2 groups in the interventional and postinterventional periods using both linear and generalized additive mixed effects models.ResultsAdherence to wearing the Fitbit during the 12-week intervention period was significantly higher in the full intervention arm than in the light intervention arm (85% vs 60%; P<.001). Average adherence was significantly lower for both study arms during the follow-up period than in the intervention period; however, there were statistically different patterns of adherence during the follow-up period, with the light intervention arm having steeper declines than the full intervention arm over time (P<.001). Similar to the adherence results, mean minutes of Fitbit-measured MVPA was higher for the full intervention arm than for the light intervention arm during the 12-week intervention period (mean MVPA 27.89 minutes/day, SD 16.38 minutes/day vs 18.35 minutes/day, SD 12.64 minutes/day; P<.001). During the follow-up period, average MVPA was significantly lower than the 12-week intervention period for both the full intervention arm (21.74 minutes/day, SD 24.65 minutes/day; P=.002) and the light intervention arm (15.03 minutes/day, SD 13.27 minutes/day; P=.004). Although the mean MVPA in each arm was similar across the follow-up period (P=.33), the pattern of daily MVPA was significantly different between the 2 groups (P<.001).ConclusionsWhile adherence to wearing activity trackers and maintaining physical activities declined after completion of a 12-week exercise intervention, a more active interventional strategy resulted in greater wear time and activity levels during the intervention and more stable patterns of adherence and activity in the long term. An improved understanding of long-term maintenance patterns may inform improved exercise interventions that result in sustained increases in physical activity.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT02332876; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02332876

A cross-sectional study of physical activity attitudes and preferences of individuals with opioid use disorder

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a public health crisis. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is an effective treatment for OUD; but even with MMT, treatment retention is poor, and relapse rates are high. Physical activity (PA) has been shown to improve retention and relapse rates among individuals in substance use disorder treatment. We conducted a cross-sectional study to explore PA attitudes (i.e., barriers and benefits to PA, PA self-efficacy, PA-related affect), PA preferences, and self-reported PA among adults with OUD who were in MMT. A total of 60 adults (Mean age 35.7 [SD = 9.7]) were recruited from MMT clinics. The majority were male (51.7%) and White (71.75%). Participants indicated a high level of perceived benefits to PA, moderate level of perceived barriers to PA, moderate level of self-efficacy to overcome barriers to PA, and PA as enjoyable. PA preferences were identified and considerations for future PA intervention research in this population are discussed. These findings add to the limited body of research on PA attitudes and preferences in adults receiving MMT and suggest continued work in this area could inform tailored PA intervention design for this vulnerable population.

Differences in adaptive and maladaptive psychosocial responses to chronic pain among adults with varying physical activity levels.

Chronic pain is a global public health problem that detrimentally impacts people's health and well-being. Physical activity is beneficial and a recommended self-management strategy for adults living with chronic pain. Yet, many of them struggle to meet the public health recommendation of 150+ minutes/week of moderate-vigorous physical activity. Identifying modifiable factors related to physical activity participation is needed. Adaptive (i.e., self-regulatory efficacy to overcome pain and related barriers [SRE-pain], psychological flexibility) and maladaptive (i.e. pain anxiety) responses were the modifiable factors examined in the present study. The purpose was to investigate whether adults living with chronic pain who were sufficiently active, insufficiently active or inactive significantly differed in their adaptive and maladaptive responses to chronic pain. Adults with self-reported chronic pain for 6+ months (N = 318) completed an online survey that measured physical activity, psychological flexibility, SRE-pain and pain anxiety. Sufficiently active (n = 139), insufficiently active (n = 91) and inactive (n = 88) groups were identified. A significant multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) (p < .001) with univariate follow-up tests illustrated that the sufficiently active individuals reported the highest psychological flexibility and SRE-pain compared to insufficiently active and inactive individuals (p's < .001). Overall, sufficiently active participants responded the most adaptively and least maladaptively to their pain, followed by the insufficiently active. Inactive participants responded the most maladaptively. Identifying differences in adaptive and maladaptive responses to pain highlights possible modifiable factors to target in future physical activity intervention research that focuses on improving chronic pain self-management.

Translating a walking intervention for health professional delivery within primary care: A mixed-methods treatment fidelity assessment.

ObjectivesExisting fidelity studies of physical activity interventions are limited in methodological quality and rigour, particularly those delivered by health care providers in clinical settings. The present study aimed to enhance and assess the fidelity of a walking intervention delivered by health care providers within general practice in line with the NIH Behavior Change Consortium treatment fidelity framework.DesignTwo practice nurses and six health care assistants delivered a theory‐based walking intervention to 63 patients in their own practices. A cross‐sectional mixed‐methods study assessed fidelity related to treatment delivery and treatment receipt, from the perspectives of health care providers and patients.MethodsAll providers received training and demonstrated delivery competence prior to the trial. Delivery of intervention content was coded from audio‐recordings using a standardized checklist. Qualitative interviews with 12 patients were conducted to assess patient perspectives of treatment receipt and analysed using framework analysis.ResultsOverall, 78% of intervention components were delivered as per the protocol (range 36–91%), with greater fidelity for components requiring active engagement from patients (e.g., completion of worksheets). The qualitative data highlighted differences in patients’ comprehension of specific intervention components. Understanding of, and engagement with, motivational components aimed at improving self‐efficacy was poorer than for volitional planning components.ConclusionsHigh levels of fidelity of delivery were demonstrated. However, patient‐, provider‐, and component‐level factors impacted on treatment delivery and receipt. We recommend that methods for the enhancement and assessment of treatment fidelity are consistently implemented to enhance the rigour of physical activity intervention research. Statement of contribution What is already known on this subject? Physical activity interventions delivered within primary care by health professionals have so far demonstrated limited impact on behaviour change initiation and maintenance.Treatment fidelity enhancement and assessment strategies can support the successful translation of behaviour change interventions into real‐life settings.Few studies have examined treatment fidelity within the context of physical activity interventions, particularly within clinical settings, and existing fidelity studies are limited by methodological quality and rigour. What does this study add? High levels of fidelity were found for a physical activity intervention delivered in primary care.Patient‐, provider‐, and component‐level factors may impact on treatment delivery and receipt.The implementation of best practice fidelity recommendations can support near‐optimal fidelity.

The feasibility and impact of embedding pedagogical strategies targeting physical activity within undergraduate teacher education: Transform-Ed!

PurposeLow levels of physical activity and high levels of sedentary behaviour are pervasive, especially in schools. Pre-service teacher education is pivotal to school and educational reform but is an under-studied setting for physical activity and sedentary behaviour intervention research. The objective of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and potential impact of embedding evidence-based active pedagogy based on an adapted version of Transform-Us!, Transform-Ed! in one core unit of an undergraduate teacher education degree.MethodsBaseline and follow-up measures (i.e. surveys) were conducted with Bachelor of Education (Primary) pre-service teachers who received the Transform-Ed! intervention and academic educators who delivered the intervention. Focus groups of senior academics and telephone interviews with primary school principals examined perceptions of intervention feasibility and explored potential real-world relevance and impact of pre-service teachers training in active pedagogy.ResultsAfter 12 weeks, pre-service teachers (n = 218) were significantly more willing (pre–post change Δ = 0.54, 95% CI [0.16, 0.91]), confident (Δ = 1.40, 95% CI [0.89, 1.91]) and competent (Δ = 2.39, 95% CI [1.85, 2.92]) to deliver Transform-Ed!, had more positive feelings about the impact of physical activity on student outcomes (Δ = 2.05, 95% CI [1.58, 2.52]), and perceived fewer barriers to integrating Transform-Ed! into current and future teaching (Δ = − 7.26, 95% CI [− 8.88, − 5.64]). Four major themes emerged from the focus groups (n = 9) and interviews (n = 5) around participant perceptions of Transform-Ed!: (i) acceptability and appropriateness, (ii) need (tertiary level), (iii) need (primary level) and (iv) overcoming challenges.ConclusionThe Transform-Ed! pilot study demonstrated promising results across multiple participant levels, as it was perceived to be feasible, acceptable and appropriate by pre-service teachers, academics and school principals. The findings have direct implications for the progression of Transform-Ed! from pilot to a future definitive trial.

Control group changes in objectively measured physical activity in primary care: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundThere is some evidence that simply measuring physical activity alone can increase self-reported physical activity behaviour. Objective measures of physical activity in intervention studies have increased substantially over the last decade. Yet, there is no synthesised evidence of observed changes in the control group physical activity in trials that have used objective physical activity measurement approaches. Understanding factors associated with control group increases (or decreases) in physical activity may have implications for planning physical activity research and in clinical settings where objective measures of physical activity may be used. The aim of this systematic review is to describe changes in objectively measured physical activity that have occurred within control groups in primary care physical activity intervention studies and, if possible, identify factors that are potentially associated with these changes.MethodsThe PRISMA-P reporting guidelines for systematic review protocols will be followed. Five electronic databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscuss, PsychINFO, CINAHL) will be searched to identify physical activity controlled (randomised, cluster, quasi-experimental) studies conducted with adults in primary care. Search terms will be based on previous systematic reviews, and only peer-reviewed articles published in English will be considered. The main outcome measure is the change in objectively measured physical activity within the control group. Risk of bias will be assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool and the Risk Of Bias in Non-randomised Studies—of Interventions tool. Meta-analyses will be conducted where possible among studies with sufficient homogeneity.DiscussionThis systematic review and meta-analysis will determine the extent to which physical activity measurement alone is associated with changes in objectively measured physical activity levels in control groups in primary care. Findings from this study will inform future physical activity intervention research and practice. If measuring physical activity alone is associated with increases in physical activity levels that may be considered beneficial for health, this could indicate that measurement alone may be a low cost, efficient and effective method to increase a proprotion of the population’s physical activity levels.Systematic review registrationPROSPERO CRD42018104896

Incorporating physical activity‐based interventions in school psychology research and practice: A systematic review

AbstractPhysical activity provides a myriad of well‐documented social‐emotional, behavioral, and academic benefits for youth. While research suggests that physical activity should be integrated within the school day to support the well‐being of students, an understanding of related empirical work within school psychology research and practice is unclear. School psychologists are well positioned to systematically incorporate physical activity within their intervention practices, particularly given their role and expertise in implementing and evaluating interventions. Authors engaged in a systematic review of 20 years (1998–2018) of physical activity intervention research within 10 peer‐reviewed school psychology journals and six school psychology‐related journals. Authors analyzed 22 studies to glean a comprehensive understanding of the literature base and highlight the ways in which physical activity can be incorporated to support school and student outcomes. Suggestions for research and practice in school psychology are discussed in light of the examined literature.

An Ecological Approach to Exploring Physical Activity Interventions Aimed at Young UK-Based Females: A Narrative Systematic Review

Despite the well-documented benefits of physical activity (PA), physical inactivity remains a global public health concern. Particularly high levels of sedentarism prevail among young females, making them an important target population for PA behaviour intervention. The effectiveness of interventions designed for this population has not been rigorously analysed and previous reviews of PA interventions and their ability to target specific barriers and subgroups of society have produced inconsistent findings. Ecological models have proven instrumental in categorising factors that influence health behaviours on multiple levels (intrapersonal, interpersonal, organisational and environmental, and, policy and legislative). This narrative systematic review aims to collate, summarise and synthesise evidence pertaining to the characteristics of PA interventions aimed at young females in the UK (14 - 25 years), explore the measures used to evaluate intervention impact within this population, and to make recommendations for future PA intervention research through an ecological perspective. UK-based PA intervention studies including healthy females aged 14 - 25 were identified through five electronic databases. Two reviewers independently screened the studies for inclusion, data was extracted based upon agreed criteria, and results were discussed in light of the ecological model of health behaviour. From the 21 articles included in the analysis, 17 interventions took place in educational institutions. PA options were limited across, and within interventions, and only four studies employed qualitative methods to investigate intervention effectiveness. Utilizing the ecological model it was identified that 20 studies investigated intrapersonal factors such as body composition and self-efficacy, and only seven studies explored multiple levels of the model. In conclusion, PA interventions designed considering the influence and dynamic interplay of multi-level factors suggested by the ecological model are likely to be valuable in promoting sustainable PA; such interventions aimed at young females are currently lacking. Future research should employ a variety of methodologies to evaluate intervention effectiveness.

Effectiveness of a Web 2.0 Intervention to Increase Physical Activity in Real-World Settings: Randomized Ecological Trial

BackgroundThe translation of Web-based physical activity intervention research into the real world is lacking and becoming increasingly important.ObjectiveTo compare usage and effectiveness, in real-world settings, of a traditional Web 1.0 Web-based physical activity intervention, providing limited interactivity, to a Web 2.0 Web-based physical activity intervention that includes interactive features, such as social networking (ie, status updates, online “friends,” and personalized profile pages), blogs, and Google Maps mash-ups.MethodsAdults spontaneously signing up for the freely available 10,000 Steps website were randomized to the 10,000 Steps website (Web 1.0) or the newly developed WALK 2.0 website (Web 2.0). Physical activity (Active Australia Survey), quality of life (RAND 36), and body mass index (BMI) were assessed at baseline, 3 months, and 12 months. Website usage was measured continuously. Analyses of covariance were used to assess change over time in continuous outcome measures. Multiple imputation was used to deal with missing data.ResultsA total of 1328 participants completed baseline assessments. Only 3-month outcomes (224 completers) were analyzed due to high attrition at 12 months (77 completers). Web 2.0 group participants increased physical activity by 92.8 minutes per week more than those in the Web 1.0 group (95% CI 28.8-156.8; P=.005); their BMI values also decreased more (–1.03 kg/m2, 95% CI –1.65 to -0.41; P=.001). For quality of life, only the physical functioning domain score significantly improved more in the Web 2.0 group (3.6, 95% CI 1.7-5.5; P<.001). The time between the first and last visit to the website (3.57 vs 2.22 weeks; P<.001) and the mean number of days the website was visited (9.02 vs 5.71 days; P=.002) were significantly greater in the Web 2.0 group compared to the Web 1.0 group. The difference in time-to-nonusage attrition was not statistically significant between groups (Hazard Ratio=0.97, 95% CI 0.86-1.09; P=.59). Only 21.99% (292/1328) of participants (n=292 summed for both groups) were still using either website after 2 weeks and 6.55% (87/1328) were using either website after 10 weeks.ConclusionsThe website that provided more interactive and social features was more effective in improving physical activity in real-world conditions. While the Web 2.0 website was visited significantly more, both groups nevertheless displayed high nonusage attrition and low intervention engagement. More research is needed to examine the external validity and generalizability of Web-based physical activity interventions.Trial RegistrationAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12611000253909; https://anzctr.org.au /Trial/Registration/TrialReview.aspx?id=336588&isReview=true (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/6ufzw 2HxD)

Future directions in physical activity intervention research: expanding our focus to sedentary behaviors, technology, and dissemination.

Despite the increased health risks of a sedentary lifestyle, only 49% of American adults participate in physical activity (PA) at the recommended levels. In an effort to move the PA field forward, we briefly review three emerging areas of PA intervention research. First, new intervention research has focused on not only increasing PA but also on decreasing sedentary behavior. Researchers should utilize randomized controlled trials, common terminology, investigate which behaviors should replace sedentary behaviors, evaluate long-term outcomes, and focus across the lifespan. Second, technology has contributed to an increase in sedentary behavior but has also led to innovative PA interventions. PA technology research should focus on large randomized trials with evidence-based components, explore social networking and innovative apps, improve PA monitoring, consider the lifespan, and be grounded in theory. Finally, in an effort to maximize public health impact, dissemination efforts should address the RE-AIM model, health disparities, and intervention costs.

Reflections on physical activity intervention research in young people - dos, don'ts, and critical thoughts.

BackgroundPhysical activity has been associated with many benefits throughout the life course. As levels of physical activity appear to be insufficient in large populations, the development of effective interventions to promote or maintain activity levels in young people are therefore of key public health concern. Physical activity intervention research in young people is challenging, but this should not be a reason to continue conducting inferior quality evaluations. This paper highlights some of the key issues that require more careful and consistent consideration to enable future research to achieve meaningful impact.DiscussionThis paper critically evaluates, amongst others, current research practice regarding intervention development, targeting, active involvement of the target population, challenge of recruitment and retention, measurement and evaluation protocols, long-term follow-up, economic evaluation, process evaluation, and publication. It argues that funders and researchers should collaborate to ensure high quality long-term evaluations are prioritised and that a trial’s success should be defined by its quality, not its achieved effect.SummaryThe conduct and publication of well-designed evaluations of well-defined interventions is crucial to advance the field of youth physical activity promotion and make us better understand which intervention strategies may or may not work, why, and for whom.

What do we know about how to promote physical activity to adolescents? A mapping review.

To date, adolescent physical activity (PA) intervention research has focused on the school setting and suggests a need to extend interventions beyond this setting to influence teenagers' overall level of PA. But, the relative effectiveness of PA promotion strategies that can be part of such multi-setting interventions remains unknown. We completed a mapping review of PA intervention research that focused on increasing adolescents' level of PA to describe the sum of what has been learned in this area and to expose research and knowledge gaps. We searched data bases from 1993 to September 2014, included PA promotion intervention studies targeting 12- to 17-year-old youth and assessing changes in their level of PA, and used ecological and capacity building frameworks to review this research. The 46 included studies suggest that little is known about strategies targeting the interpersonal, organizational, community or policy levels of teenagers' PA behavior influences; our current knowledge remains concentrated in the intrapersonal domain and the school setting. We suggest avenues for researchers as well as practitioners who design and implement adolescent PA programs such that we further develop our research and practice knowledge base and develop programs to positively impact adolescents' PA behavior.

Exploring the Relationship of Religiosity, Religious Support, and Social Support Among African American Women in a Physical Activity Intervention Program.

Religious belief has been linked to a variety of positive mental and physical health outcomes. This exploratory study will address the relationship between religious involvement and social connectedness among African American women. Results from a physical activity intervention research project (N=465) found that total religious support and social support were significantly negatively correlated with total religiosity, while total general social support was significantly positively correlated with total religious support. Overall, the study indicates that more research is needed on ways to encourage interaction between the positive dimensions of both religiosity and social support to bring about healthy behaviors.

Interventions to Increase Physical Activity Among Older Adults: A Meta-Analysis.

To determine the overall effectiveness of interventions designed to increase physical activity (PA) behavior among community-dwelling older adults. Comprehensive literature searching identified eligible PA intervention studies among community-dwelling adults aged 65 and older, or sample mean age of 70. Diverse study characteristics were extracted and outcome data were duplicate coded. Overall mean effect sizes (ESs) were synthesized using a random-effects model. Heterogeneity of effects was analyzed using Q and I(2) statistics. Moderator analyses were conducted using meta-analytic analogues of ANOVA and regression for dichotomous and continuous moderators, respectively. ESs were calculated from 13,829 primary study subjects. The overall mean ES for two-group posttest comparisons was 0.18 (95% CI 0.10-0.26, p < .001). This represents a difference of 620 steps/day or 73 min of PA/week between treatment and control groups. Significant moderators included the use of theory, how interventions were delivered, and cognitive plus behavioral-type intervention components. Non-significant moderators include the type of interventionist, delivery setting, and various measures of intervention dose. PA interventions significantly improved PA behavior among community-dwelling older adults. Effective PA interventions may be efficiently delivered using already available resources and personnel. Future PA intervention research should be theoretically based, incorporate more diverse subjects, and compare intervention delivery methods.