Julie A. Partridge

Differences in Children's Recess Physical Activity: Recess Activity of the Week Intervention.

BACKGROUND The increased prevalence in recent childhood obesity rates raises concern about youth health and the role that lack of physical activity plays in this trend. A focus on how children today choose to spend their discretionary time is one approach that may yield ideas for how to reduce childhood obesity. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether 3 separate recess activities of the week (RAWs) would make a difference in childrens discretionary time physical activity levels. METHODS Children (N = 65: 30 boys, 35 girls; 32 first and second graders; 33 third and fourth graders; 45 healthy body mass index [BMI], 20 overweight BMI) at 1 Midwest elementary school wore pedometers for each 15-minute morning recess period for 4 weeks. Following 1 no RAW (#1), a new RAW was introduced each subsequent week: #2, circuit course; #3, obstacle course; and #4, Frisbees. RESULTS Repeated measures factorial analysis of variance results revealed that children were significantly more active during the no RAW and circuit course week than the Frisbee week. Males were significantly more physically active than females during the obstacle course week. Older children were significantly more active during the Frisbee week than younger children. Healthy BMI children were significantly more physically active during the circuit course week than children in the overweight/obese BMI category. CONCLUSIONS Results imply that it is important for schools to consider demographic factors in the creation of recess opportunities to increase physical activity.

Predictors of Adolescent Male Body Image Dissatisfaction: Implications for Negative Health Practices and Consequences for School Health From a Regionally Representative Sample

BACKGROUND Adolescent males are more likely to sustain intentional and unintentional injuries, be involved in a physical confrontation, and be successful in suicide attempts. Body image dissatisfaction (BID) has been linked as a possible contributing factor to these negative health behaviors and risks; however, research is limited with males. The interaction of intrapersonal, interpersonal, and social variables in a holistic model has yet to be explored for males. Variables precipitating adolescent males to develop an unhealthy body image and act on negative health behaviors, such as body image drug use, were the impetus for this study. METHODS A randomized cross-sectional sample of 330 adolescent males answered questions concerning body image using the Adolescent Body Image Satisfaction Scale (ABISS). Pearson product moment correlations and stepwise regression analyses identified the strongest predictive variables of BID. RESULTS The strongest contributing variables accounting for 56.7% of model variance were desire for the body of another person (r = .571, p < .001), teasing (r = .490, p < .001), satisfaction with their body when they were younger (r = .450, p < .001), and difficulty coping with criticism (r = .443, p < .001). No statistically significant differences were found for racial/ethnic background (p < .822, n.s.). CONCLUSIONS Educators and school districts should consider the confluence of psychosocial variables affecting body image and adolescent male health risk behaviors based on a statistically sound predictive model as provided by the ABISS. Targeted programming to enhance body image and address teasing/bullying behaviors is strongly recommended.

Coping styles for trait shame and anxiety intensity and direction in competitive athletes.

The purpose of the study was to assess if athletes who perceived their anxiety as debilitative to performance also scored higher on ratings of coping styles used to handle trait shame. The sample was comprised of 94 participants (males = 44, females = 50) ranging in age from 13 to 24 years (M=18.8, SD = 23). Athletes in high school (n = 21) and college (n = 73) representing several sports were surveyed for this study. Competitive sport experience averaged 11 yr. (SD = 3.9) overall. The Competitive Trait Anxiety Inventory–2D was given to collect general anxiety perceptions related to the athletes specific sport. The Compass of Shame Scale-Sport was administered to measure coping styles for trait shame responses connected with competitive sport experiences. The athletes were divided into Facilitative (n = 39) and Debilitative anxiety groups (n=55) based on the overall direction of anxiety scores. Multivariate analysis of variance indicated no interaction, but did reveal significant main effects for sex and anxiety group. Univariate tests indicated significant differences for several of the shame and anxiety subscales based on sex and anxiety group.

Mean Girls: Adolescent Female Athletes and Peer Conflict in Sport

The purpose of this study was to explore adolescent female athletes’ experiences with peer conflict. In-depth, semistructured interviews (N = 15) were conducted with female athletes participating in high school/club-level sport. Inductive and deductive content analysis was then completed, and 4 distinct themes emerged regarding interpersonal conflict in the sport domain: causes of sport peer conflict, manifestations of sport peer conflict, outcomes of sport peer conflict, and attempts to reduce conflict. Findings imply that sport peer relationships can result in conflict behaviors that are both consistent with developmental literature and distinctive within the adolescent sport domain.

Predisposing, Reinforcing and Enabling Predictors of Middle School Children's After-school Physical Activity Participation

Abstract Background: Childrens participation in after-school physical activity can attenuate the overweight and obesity rates among rural, low socioeconomic status (SES) children. Childrens individual determination, as well as social and environmental factors, can influence their behaviors. Purpose: The purposes of this study were to determine if a difference existed in after-school physical activity participation among children from different socioeconomic strata and to identify predisposing, reinforcing, and enabling predictors of after-school physical activity. Methods: A crosssectional, descriptive research design using surveys was used with rural, middle school children. Results: Low SES children were more active than high SES children. Physical activity self-efficacy, attraction to physical activity, and access to equipment were statistically significant in predicting childrens after-school physical activity level. Discussion: Interventions enhancing self-efficacy and providing enjoyable options with adequate equipment can foster childrens after-school physical activity behavior. Further research however should examine reasons (e.g., farming) why low SES children reported themselves to be more active than not-low SES children; these results are contrary to results from other studies. Translation to Health Education Practice: Increasing overweight and obesity rates should prompt practitioners to consider implementing both physical activity and nutrition interventions specific to rural children.

Cancer caregivers’ perceptions of an exercise and nutrition program

PurposeLittle research has addressed exercise and nutrition-based interventions for cancer caregivers. This study explored cancer caregivers’ perceptions of participating in a structured exercise and nutrition program alongside cancer survivors for whom they provided care.MethodsIn-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted by one interviewer with 12 cancer caregivers about their experiences participating in a structured, 12-week exercise and nutrition program designed for cancer survivors and caregivers to complete concurrently. Interviews were conducted until data saturation was reached.ResultsInductive content analysis from individual interviews indicated three separate, but interrelated, themes: (1) the program was a positive mechanism through which caregivers shared and supported the cancer journey concurrently with survivors, (2) the program led to perceived physical and psychological benefits for both caregivers and survivors, and (3) participants perceived that participation in the program led to feeling increased social support in their caregiving duties.ConclusionsFindings from this study suggest that participating in an exercise- and nutrition-based intervention is viewed positively by caregivers and that the outcomes are seen as beneficial to both caregivers and survivors. Interventions that address the health needs of both members of the caregiver–survivor dyad should continue to be encouraged by allied health professionals.

Practice Variability and Training Design: Strategies of Elite Horizontal Jump Coaches

Abstract Schmidt’s Schema Theory (1975) predicts that successful motor skill learning and performance are largely determined by the amount of movement variability the performer experiences during practice. This prediction has been consistently validated through a vast amount of research. Within a training environment, practice variability can be integrated by creating variation within the movements of an action, the physical context in which the action takes place, and the situation in which the action is performed. The purpose of this study was to investigate the degree to which elite long jump coaches institute practice variability within their training design to enhance toe-board accuracy. Participants completed an open-ended survey inquiring about their knowledge and strategies to improve toe-board accuracy. Seventy-eight percent of the coaches reported they were aware of research on toe-board accuracy and reported using a variety of strategies. With respect to practice variability, coaches used “measured run” techniques that change the approach distance to the toe-board. Coaches did not report varying movements of the long jump action or situations in which the action occurs. The results suggest that elite long jump coaches stress the importance of toe-board accuracy but do not maximize the use of practice variability for training toe-board accuracy.

The Influence of External Focus Instruction Characteristics on Children’s Motor Performance

ABSTRACT Purpose: Research has demonstrated that verbal instructions directing attention externally (i.e., toward the effect of the movement) significantly enhance motor skill performance, and this effect is enhanced when the distance of the external focus relative to the body is increased. However, few studies have investigated this distance-of-focus effect in children. The present study aimed to examine the effect of increasing the distance of an external focus on children’s motor performance in 2 experiments. Method: In Experiment 1, children performed standing long jumps under 3 instructional conditions (control, internal attentional focus, and external attentional focus). In Experiment 2, children performed standing long jumps under 4 instructional conditions (control, internal, proximal external attentional focus, and distal external attentional focus). Results: In Experiment 1, results revealed a statistically significant jump distance advantage for the external focus condition. In Experiment 2, a statistically significant jump distance advantage for the distal external focus condition was found. However, instructional and task characteristics beyond distance of focus may have been influential. Conclusions: External focus instructions benefit children’s jump performance, but specifically when they are supported by a concrete movement goal reflecting relevant performance criteria. These findings highlight the importance of examining the content of instructions and relevant task characteristics provided to children beyond attentional focus to consider their motivational characteristics.