White Adolescent Girls Research Articles

Body dissatisfaction mediates the association between body mass index and risky weight control behaviors among White and Native American adolescent girls

The developmental path leading to eating disorders among adolescent girls often proceeds from increasing body size, to increasing body dissatisfaction, to increasing eating disorder (ED) risk. To determine whether body dissatisfaction (BD) mediates the association between body size and risky weight control behaviors, we examined data from White ( n = 709) and Native American ( n = 253) girls, who differ substantially in terms of average body mass and reported weight control behaviors. Measures of BD included weight, shape, and appearance concerns. Measures of ED risk included dieting, exercising to control weight, binge eating, and vomiting. Results showed body dissatisfaction was a highly significant mediator of the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and ED risk for both ethnic groups; although, BD did not mediate the association between BMI and binge eating for either group. BD is apparently an important mediator of the association between body size and some, but not all, risky weight control behaviors.

Participation in Physical Activity Among Normal‐ and Overweight Hispanic and Non‐Hispanic White Adolescents

The purpose of this study was to determine the relation between weight status and participation in physical activity (PA) among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white (NHW) adolescent boys and girls. In this cross-sectional study, height and weight were measured and a modified 2001 Youth Risk Behavior Survey was administered to 1,302 Hispanic and NHW adolescents, aged 14-17 years, attending high school in Nueces County, Texas. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the relation between weight status (normal weight or "at risk for overweight and overweight" [AR&O]) and PA, including moderate PA, vigorous PA, strength training, participation in team sports, and TV viewing, according to gender and ethnicity. Thirty-eight percent of adolescents were AR&O, including 32% and 48% of Hispanic girls and boys, respectively, and 22% and 35% of NHW girls and boys, respectively. As expected, boys reported participating in more PAs than girls. Compared with NHW girls, both normal weight and AR&O Hispanic girls reported significantly fewer bouts of moderate activity, less involvement in team sports, and more time watching TV. Normal weight boys reported participating in significantly more vigorous activity than those who were AR&O. Hispanic boys reported more strength training than NHWs; however, they watched significantly more hours of TV than NHW boys. Hispanic and NHW high school students reported participation in different PAs; this information may be useful for planning health and physical education curriculum.

Longitudinal Patterns of Breakfast Eating in Black and White Adolescent Girls

The objective was to describe the pattern of breakfast eating over time ("breakfast history") and examine its associations with BMI and physical activity. This longitudinal investigation of patterns of breakfast eating included 1,210 black and 1,161 white girls who participated in the 10-year, longitudinal National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (NGHS). Three-day food records were collected during annual visits beginning at ages 9 or 10 up to age 19. Linear regression and path analysis were used to estimate the associations between breakfast history, BMI, and physical activity. Among girls with a high BMI at baseline, those who ate breakfast more often had lower BMI at the end of the study (age 19), compared with those who ate breakfast less often. Path analysis indicated that energy intake and physical activity mediated the association between patterns of breakfast eating over time and BMI in late adolescence. The association between regular breakfast consumption over time and moderation of body weight among girls who began the study with relatively high BMI suggests that programs to address overweight in children and adolescents should emphasize the importance of physical activity and eating breakfast consistently.

The relationship between meal frequency and body mass index in black and white adolescent girls: more is less

To document meal frequency and its relationship to body mass index (BMI) in a longitudinal sample of black and white girls from ages 9-19 years. Ten-year longitudinal observational study. At baseline, 1209 Black girls (539 age nine years, 670 age 10 years) and 1,166 White girls (616 age nine years, 550 age 10 years) were enrolled in the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (NGHS). Three-day food diaries, measured height and weight and self-reported physical activity and television viewing were obtained at annual in-person visits. Over the course of the study, the percentage of girls eating 3+ meals on all 3 days was reduced by over half (15 vs 6%). Participants who ate 3+ meals on more days had lower BMI-for-age z-scores. Black girls, but not white girls, who ate 3+ meals on more days were less likely to meet criteria for overweight. Meal frequency was related to BMI and should be considered when developing guidelines to prevent childhood overweight.

Can neighborhoods explain racial/ethnic differences in adolescent inactivity?

To determine if neighborhoods and their attributes contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in adolescent inactivity. We undertook a cross-sectional analysis of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (n = 17,007), a nationally representative school-based study in the United States. Stratifying by gender, we used multivariate linear regression and multi-level modeling to determine whether neighborhood of residence may partially explain racial/ethnic disparities in adolescent physical inactivity, defined as hours viewing television or videos/DVDs and/or playing computer/video games each week. Participants lived in largely segregated communities. Black and Hispanic adolescent girls reported higher levels of inactivity than White adolescent girls (21 vs. 15 vs. 13 hours/week, respectively, p <0.001). Similar patterns were seen in adolescent boys, with Black adolescent males reporting a mean of 26 hours/week; Hispanic boys a mean of 20 hours/week; and White boys a mean of 17 hours/week of inactivity (p <0.001). After accounting for between-neighborhood variation, there were no residual within-neighborhood differences in inactivity between Hispanic and White adolescent girls (gamma = -0.06, p =0.93); when living in the same neighborhood Hispanic and White girls had similar levels of inactivity. Black adolescent girls and boys were found to have higher levels of inactivity no matter where they lived (gamma =7.00, p <0.001 for girls; gamma = 6.96, p <0.001 for boys). Hispanic boys had similar patterns of inactivity to White boys (gamma =-1.57, p = 0.12). In both males and females, the reported rate of violent crime in the neighborhood was associated with inactivity, despite the individual's perception of his/her neighborhood as safe not being predictive. Although inactivity varies by race/ethnicity and gender, only in Hispanic adolescent girls does neighborhood fully explain the differential use. Our findings suggest that approaches other than changing neighborhood characteristics are needed to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities in adolescent inactivity.

Can School Income and Racial/Ethnic Composition Explain the Racial/Ethnic Disparity in Adolescent Physical Activity Participation?

Our goal was to determine if racial/ethnic disparities in adolescent boys' and girls' physical activity participation exist and persist once the school attended is considered. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 17,007 teens in the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. Using multivariate linear regression, we examined the association between adolescent self-reported physical activity and individual race/ethnicity stratified by gender, controlling for a wide range of sociodemographic, attitudinal, behavioral, and health factors. We used multilevel analyses to determine if the relationship between race/ethnicity and physical activity varied by the school attended. Participants attended racially segregated schools; approximately 80% of Hispanic and black adolescent boys and girls attended schools with student populations that were <66% white, whereas nearly 40% of the white adolescents attended schools that were >94% white. Black and Hispanic adolescent girls reported lower levels of physical activity than white adolescent girls. There were more similar levels of physical activity reported in adolescent boys, with black boys reporting slightly more activities. Although black and Hispanic adolescent girls were more likely to attend poorer schools with overall lower levels of physical activity in girls; there was no difference within schools between black, white, and Hispanic adolescent girls' physical activity levels. Within the same schools, both black and Hispanic adolescent boys had higher rates of physical activity when compared with white adolescent boys. In this nationally representative sample, lower physical activity levels in Hispanic and black adolescent girls were largely attributable to the schools they attended. In contrast, black and Hispanic males had higher activity levels than white males when attending the same schools. Future research is needed to determine the mechanisms through which school environments contribute to racial/ethnic disparities in adolescent physical activity and will need to consider gender differences in these racial/ethnic disparities.

Fruit and vegetable intake: Few adolescent girls meet national guidelines

Objective.To examine longitudinal changes in daily fruit and vegetable consumption among black and white adolescent girls and calculate the percent of girls who met the Healthy People 2010 recommendations. Methods.Girls (1186 black and 1126 white) who participated in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth Health Study (NGHS) were included if they had completed a 3-day food diary for at least one of six annual assessments visits, beginning at ages 11 or 12. Mixed models estimated the association of visit and race with (a) average daily consumption of fruits and vegetables and (b) the probability of meeting intake recommendations on one or more out of 3 days. Results.For girls of both races, fruit and vegetable consumption increased with age; white girls showed a greater increase in fruit and nutrient-rich vegetable intake than black girls. Across visits, girls consumed considerably fewer than the recommended daily servings of fruits (1.0–1.5), vegetables (1.7–2.5), or nutrient-rich vegetables (0.25). Most girls (95%) failed to meet Healthy People 2010 recommendations. Conclusions.Public health efforts are needed to meet Healthy People 2010 objectives.

Development of the Metabolic Syndrome in Black and White Adolescent Girls: A Longitudinal Assessment

The metabolic syndrome, associated with increased risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease, begins to develop during adolescence. We sought to identify early predictors of the presence of the syndrome at the ages of 18 and 19 years in black and white girls. Using longitudinal data on participants from 2 centers in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study, a 10-year cohort study, we applied cutoffs from the Adult Treatment Panel III to document changes in the prevalence of abnormal syndrome elements and the syndrome in girls aged 9 and 10 years, when cases were rare, and those aged 18 and 19 years, when prevalence had reached 3%. Longitudinal regression models identified early predictors for the presence of the syndrome. Only 1 girl of each race had > or =3 factors at ages 9 and 10 (0.2%), but 20 black girls (3.5%) and 12 white girls (2.3%) had the syndrome 10 years later. Low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol was prevalent throughout the period in both black and white girls. The prevalence of other variables was low at enrollment but increased during follow-up, except for abnormal triglyceride levels in black girls, which remained low throughout follow-up. In multivariate models, early measures of waist circumference and triglyceride level were significant predictors for development of the syndrome. The strong association of central adiposity with the development of the metabolic syndrome suggests that early interventions aimed at managing preteen obesity could reduce risk of developing the syndrome.

Does adolescent depression predict obesity in black and white young adult women?

To examine whether adolescent depressive symptoms predict young adult body mass index (BMI) and obesity in black and white women. Participants included 1554 black and white adolescent girls from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study (NGHS) who completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies--Depression Scale (CES-D) at ages 16 and 18 years. Regression analyses showed that depressive symptoms at both ages 16 and 18 were associated with increased risk of obesity (BMI > or = 30) and elevated BMI in young adulthood (age 21) in both black and white girls. Black girls exhibited a significantly greater likelihood of obesity and higher BMI (i.e. a main effect of race), but the race x CES-D interaction was not significant in any analysis. Depressive symptoms in adolescence appear to be predictive of obesity and elevated BMI in early adulthood for both black and white girls, even when taking prior BMI into account, indicating that depressive symptoms confer risk for obesity above and beyond the known tracking of body weight. Obesity prevention studies might consider assessing depressive symptoms in adolescence in order to more fully capture important risk variables.

Navigating Power, Control, and Being Nice: Aggression in Adolescent Girls' Friendships

Female friendships (i.e., friendships among girls and women) are among the most important relationships that girls and women develop during their lifetimes. Gilligan (2003) proposed that women's morality and sense of self are based on connectedness and interdependence with others and that affiliation with and acceptance by other girls or women often become essential elements of identity. The process of establishing and maintaining friendships with other women is a crucial aspect of psychosocial development (Pipher, 2002), and as girls become adolescents, these relationships assume an increasing amount of importance, potentially assisting with adjustment and a sense of well-being. Research conducted during the last decade, however, suggests that girls are just as likely as boys to be aggressive in their friendships but that they use their social intelligence rather than physical aggression when in conflict. Girls, who tend to be more emotionally intimate in their friendships than boys, are able to use females' strong desire for connectedness as leverage against each other (Talbot, 2002). Unfortunately, relationally aggressive behavior can deprive girls of opportunities to meet their needs for friendship and emotional intimacy, both of which are important for their emotional health (Crick, Casas, & Nelson, 2002). Relational aggression (including socially and direct relationally aggressive behavior) can encompass a range of emotionally hurtful behaviors. Socially aggressive include gossiping; social exclusion, isolation, or alienation; writing notes or talking about someone; and stealing friends or romantic partners. Direct relationally aggressive behaviors, defined as the use of confrontational strategies to achieve interpersonal damage, include not talking to or hanging around with someone, deliberately ignoring someone, threatening to withdraw emotional support or friendship, and excluding someone from a group by informing her that she is not welcome (Xie, Swift, Cairns, & Cairns, 2002). Why do girls tend to use relational aggression when engaged in conflict? According to Bern (1981b), children rapidly learn and understand societal perspectives about gender and incorporate these views into their behavior. Girls with traditional feminine gender identities match their preferences, attitudes, behaviors, and personal attributes with traditional feminine gender schema (Bern, 1981b). Such gender role constructions (O'Neal & Egan, 1993) involve restricting the emotional expression of anger; this restriction may be extremely limiting for girls. Developing power through voicing one's feelings may result in hurting others (Belenky, Clinchy, Goldberger, & Tarule, 1997). Girls are expected to maintain harmonious relationships with others, and if they are concerned about the potential negative impact of the expression of anger on others, they will likely temper their reactions (Hatch & Forgays, 2001). Thus, because directness and overt confrontation are not consistent with a feminine gender identity, girls adhering to such standards are forced to use more manipulative and covert means of expressing anger, resolving conflict, and establishing dominance (Bern, 1981b). It is interesting that because of the diversity among young women in the United States, it is not possible to fit them neatly into the construct of gender identity. There may be quite different socialization practices for White, middle- and upper-class adolescent girls than for adolescent girls of color from middle- and upper-class backgrounds. For example, African American adolescent girls may encounter familial socialization practices that proactively prepare them for dealing with oppression, prejudice, and overt and covert discrimination. Robinson and Howard-Hamilton (1994) discussed Afrocentric socialization strategies that assist an individual's ability to avoid internalizing negative societal messages that can foster unhealthy self-images and self-depreciatory behaviors (p. …

Breakfast Consumption by African-American and White Adolescent Girls Correlates Positively with Calcium and Fiber Intake and Negatively with Body Mass Index

Objective To describe age- and race-related differences in breakfast consumption and to examine the association of breakfast intake with dietary calcium and fiber and body mass index (BMI). Design Data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study, a 9-year, longitudinal biracial cohort study with annual 3-day food records. Subjects/setting The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study recruited 2,379 girls (1,166 white and 1,213 African American), aged 9 or 10 years at baseline for an observational study. Retention rates were very high at visits two through four (96%, 94%, and 91%), but declined to a low of 82% at visit seven, and increased to 89% at visit 10. Main outcome measures Frequency of breakfast consumption, dietary calcium and fiber, and BMI. Statistical analyses Generalized estimation equations methodology was used to examine differences in the frequency of breakfast eating by age and race. Generalized estimation equations analyses were also conducted to test whether breakfast consumption was predictive of intake of dietary calcium and fiber, and BMI, adjusting for potentially confounding effects of site, age, race, parental education, physical activity, and total energy intake. Results Frequency of breakfast eating declined with age, white girls reported more frequent breakfast consumption than African-American girls, and the racial difference decreased with increasing age. Days eating breakfast were associated with higher calcium and fiber intake in all models, regardless of adjustment variables. Days eating breakfast were predictive of lower BMI in models that adjusted for basic demographics (ie, site, age, and race), but the independent effect of breakfast was no longer significant after parental education, energy intake, and physical activity were added to the model. Conclusions Dietetics professionals need to promote the importance of consuming breakfast to all children and adolescents, especially African-American girls.

Enjoyment Mediates Effects of a School-Based Physical-Activity Intervention

The study evaluated whether targeted changes in factors influencing enjoyment of physical education (PE), physical activity enjoyment, and self-efficacy beliefs about participating in physical activity mediated the effect of the Lifestyle Education for Activity Program (LEAP) intervention on participation in physical activity. High schools (N=24) paired on enrollment size, racial composition, urban or rural location, and class structure were randomized into control (N=12) or experimental (N=12) groups. Of the 4044 girls enrolled and eligible, 2087 (51.6%) participated in the measurement component of the study. There were 1038 girls in the control group and 1049 girls in the experimental group. LEAP was a comprehensive school-based intervention emphasizing changes in instruction and school environment designed to increase physical activity among black and white adolescent girls. It was organized according to the Coordinated School Health Program and included a PE component with core objectives of promoting enjoyment of PE, physical activity enjoyment, and self-efficacy. Latent variable structural equation modeling indicated that: 1) the intervention had direct, positive effects on physical activity and factors influencing enjoyment of PE, which subsequently explained the effects of increased physical activity enjoyment and self-efficacy on increased physical activity; and 2) an additional, indirect effect of physical activity enjoyment on physical activity operated by an influence on self-efficacy. Increases in enjoyment partially mediated the positive effect of the LEAP intervention. To our knowledge, we have provided the first experimental evidence from a randomized controlled trial linking increased enjoyment with increased physical activity among black and white adolescent girls.

Links Between Pubertal Timing and Neighborhood Contexts: Implications for Girls’ Violent Behavior

To investigate links between girls' violent behavior, pubertal timing, and neighborhood characteristics. A total of 501 Hispanic, black, and white adolescent girls and their parents were interviewed twice over a 3-year period (1995-1998). Violent behavior was assessed using the Self-Report of Offending Scale and pubertal timing was measured via menarche. This probability sample was drawn from Chicago. To characterize neighborhoods, neighborhood clusters were created. U.S. Census data were mapped onto each neighborhood cluster to represent levels of concentrated disadvantage, immigrant concentration, and residential mobility. The response rate was approximately 70%. More than 25% of girls engaged in violent behavior at the second interview. Controlling for demographic indicators, previous violence, and other psychological factors, no differences were found in violent behavior as a function of menarcheal timing or neighborhood characteristics. Instead, results revealed that early maturers engaged in violent behavior only if they lived in neighborhoods characterized by high concentrated disadvantage. Early maturers in neighborhoods characterized by high concentrated disadvantaged engaged in three times the number of violent acts as early maturers in less disadvantaged neighborhoods. Depressive symptoms and previous violent behavior were also associated with girls' subsequent violent behavior. Results indicated that girls who experience a double vulnerability--early maturation and neighborhoods of disadvantage--are susceptible to engaging in violent behavior. This suggests the need for clinical evaluation to examine the implications of pubertal timing and the context of girls' behavior.

Sociocultural Influences on Body Image Concerns and Body Change Strategies Among Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Australian Adolescent Girls and Boys

Sociocultural messages about the ideal body build have been studied predominantlyamong White adolescent girls. In the current study we examined the relationships between perceived sociocultural influences, body image concerns, and body change strategies among 47 (22 boys and 25 girls) Indigenous Australian adolescents. These relationships were compared to those from 47 non-Indigenous adolescents (predominantly from an Anglo-Saxon background), who were matched on gender, age, and school grade. Overall, the sociocultural influences were found to be associated with body image concerns and body change strategies among both cultural groups. The only exception was that the sociocultural influences were not associated with the Indigenous girls’ levels of body dissatisfaction or body image importance. These findings are discussed in relation to past studies of White and Black girls.

Calcium intake and knowledge among white adolescent girls in Gauteng, South Africa

Objectives. To determine the knowledge and intake of calcium among white adolescent girls in Gauteng, South Africa.Design. A quantitative study using a questionnaire interview conducted over 13 months (1 June 2000 - 31 July 2001).Settings. Sixteen randomly selected private and state schools in the Gauteng area.Subjects. Adolescent white girls aged between 15 and 17 years.Outcome measures. Calcium intake and knowledge using a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and 7-day weighed records (WRS).Results. Mean calcium intake according to the FFQ was 811 mg/day (adequate intake (AI) 1 300 mg/day). Fiftyone per cent of participants had not been given any information relating to calcium and its benefits. Teachers and parents are the most noted sources of information and 31% of the participants knew that adolescence was the most important period for calcium absorption and bone building.Conclusions. Adolescents have low intakes of calcium compared with what is recommended. It is important to develop intervention programmes that target children, adolescents, teachers and mothers alike. It is also imperative to develop awareness of the importance of calcium consumption during childhood and adolescence in order to minimise the possibility of osteoporosis in later life.

Expanding our understanding of the relationship between negative life events and depressive symptoms in black and white adolescent girls

Little is known about the extent to which negative life events predict depressive symptoms in ethnically diverse groups or whether this relationship is proximal or enduring. The relationship between negative life events in adolescence and depressive symptoms in young adulthood was studied in a sample of over 1300 black and white female adolescents. Five domains of life events were assessed at age 16 years and depressive symptoms were measured at age 18 and again at age 21 years. Questions of interest included whether the association continued over time and whether there were specific domains of life events that predicted symptoms better than others. The total number of negative life events at time 1 predicted depressive symptoms at both time 2 and time 3. Interpersonal loss events and other adversities, however, predicted depressive symptoms only at time 2, whereas at time 3, only interpersonal trauma was a significant predictor. No ethnic differences were found, indicating that the relationship between life events and depressive symptoms appears to be similar for black and white adolescent girls. The results suggest that negative life events and some specific type of stressorsincrease the likelihood of the onset of depression symptoms in future years, for both black and white girls. Early preventive efforts should be directed at adolescents who experience loss due to death of a significant other, traumatic events, and psychosocial adversities to forestall the development of depressive symptoms.

Factorial Validity and Invariance of a Self-Report Measure of Physical Activity among Adolescent Girls

We examined the factorial validity and factorial invariance of the 3-day physical activity recall (3DPAR) using confirmatory factor analysis. Adolescent girls from two cohorts (N = 955, N = 1,797) completed the 3DPAR in the eighth grade; participants in Cohort 2 (N = 1,658) completed the 3DPAR again 1 year later in the ninth grade. The 3DPAR was best represented by two uncorrelated factors in Cohort 1. The two-factor, uncorrelated measurement model exhibited evidence of cross-validity between Cohorts 1 and 2. This model also exhibited configurai and partial metric invariance between race and across time. Hence, the 3DPAR consisted of two uncorrelated factors underlying three indicators of both moderate and vigorous physical activity in this sample of Black and White girls across a 1-year period. The 3DPAR can be used in cross-sectional, prospective cohort and intervention studies that examine mediators and moderators of physical activity among Black and White adolescent girls.

Measuring eating concerns in Black and White adolescent girls.

Few instruments exist to measure eating concerns in adolescent girls from diverse ethnic backgrounds. A Children's version of the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-C) has been under development for several years and was designed to be more appropriate for younger children with lower reading levels. However, little is known about the validity of this instrument. The current study reports on the factor structure of an early version of the EDI-C using nonclinical samples of 1,073 White and 1,155 Black girls (ages 11-12). Factor analysis resulted in an eight-factor solution for each group that included a weight concerns factor and an emotional distress factor. For Black girls only, the positively worded items from the Body Dissatisfaction subscale loaded on a separate factor. Four of five factors were similar to the original EDI subscales (Bulimia, Interpersonal Distrust, Maturity Fears, and Perfectionism), although the latter was unique to White girls. The factor structure was generally similar for Black and White girls, although the separate body satisfaction factor and lack of shared variance for the perfectionism factor for Black girls suggest that EDI data obtained from ethnic minority samples may need to be interpreted cautiously.

Self-efficacy partially mediates the effect of a school-based physical-activity intervention among adolescent girls

Background. This study evaluated the effects of the Lifestyle Education for Activity Program (LEAP), a comprehensive school-based intervention emphasizing changes in instruction and school environment, on variables derived from social-cognitive theory (SCT) as mediators of change in physical activity among black and white adolescent girls. Methods. Twenty-four high schools paired on enrollment size, racial composition, urban, suburban, or rural location, and class structure were randomized into control ( n = 12) or experimental ( n = 12) groups. There were 1038 girls in the control group and 1049 girls in the experimental group. The multicomponent intervention emphasized the enhancement of self-efficacy and development of behavioral skills by using curricular activities within physical education classes and health education instruction. The primary outcomes were self-efficacy, outcome-expectancy value, goal setting, satisfaction, and physical activity. Results. Latent variable structural equation modeling indicated that: (1) self-efficacy and satisfaction exhibited synchronous, cross-sectional relationships with physical activity; (2) the intervention had direct effects on self-efficacy, goal setting, and physical activity; and (3) self-efficacy partially mediated the effect of intervention on physical activity. Conclusions. To our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence from a randomized controlled trial that manipulation of self-efficacy results in increased physical activity among black and white adolescent girls. The results encourage the use of self-efficacy as a targeted, mediator variable in interventions designed to increase physical activity among girls.

Physical Activity Attitudes of African American and White Adolescent Girls

Understanding the attitudes of African American adolescent girls toward physical activity may help identify strategies to enable these adolescents to adopt a more physically active lifestyle that could track into adulthood. To identify and compare attitudes of African American adolescent girls toward physical activity with the attitudes of white adolescent girls. Six focus groups (N = 49) were conducted with 9th- through 12th-grade African American and white adolescent girls. Participants were recruited from community and medical settings in an urban city. Groups were audiotaped, coded, and analyzed for themes. African American participants were more accepting of their body image than were the white participants as individuals, as a community, and in the media. Themes common among African American and white participants included appearance and hygiene, value of physical activity, and issues of masculinity. Physically active adolescents reported on the significance of social support in motivating their physical activity participation. Future research on these attitudes could help inform the design of effective and culturally appropriate interventions to promote physical activity in African American and white adolescent girls.