Nicole Zarrett

A Qualitative Study of Staff's Perspectives on Implementing an After School Program Promoting Youth Physical Activity.

Minimal effects found across youth physical activity (PA) interventions, and increased attention to circumstances that impede adequate delivery of program components, has highlighted the importance of learning from staff what is needed to foster staff comprehension and engagement for developing, adopting, and successfully implementing PA-based youth interventions. The purpose of this study is to address this knowledge gap by conducting a qualitative assessment of school staff perspectives on the positive aspects and challenges of implementing the 17-week ACT program, an after-school intervention that integrated motivational and behavioral components to promote PA in underserved adolescents. Interviews were conducted with one school staff member from each participating school for all four trial cohorts (N=12). Transcripts were coded by independent coders (r=.84) and content analyses of themes was performed using QSR NVivo. Themes were organized into five meta-themes: (1) Logistics; (2) Essential Elements; (3) Staff and Child Challenges; (4) Staff Comprehension, Value, and Enjoyment; (5) Spill-Over Effects. Findings indicate that staff can be successful at understanding, valuing, and reaching fidelity in implementing climate-based mediation components. The insight gained from this study lays the foundation for understanding the components needed for establishing well-implemented, effective, and generalizable interventions for increasing youth PA.

The effects of out-of-school time on changes in youth risk of obesity across the adolescent years.

This study examined the longitudinal effects of out-of-school time (OST) activities on youth weight-status through mid-to-late adolescence. First, using pattern-centered methods, we identified the prominent ways in which youth allocate their OST across 12 common active and sedentary activities available to them. Second, through multi-level modeling procedures we examined the relation of OST activity patterns to: 1) BMI-status during the 11th grade, and; 2) within-person change in BMI-status across the adolescent years. After accounting for race, gender, SES, pubertal-status, and gaming, youth who participated in a sports-dominant activity pattern for 2 or more years had significantly lower 11th grade odds of being at-risk for overweight/obesity compared to youth in all other activity patterns. Youth of all other activity patterns had similar odds of being at-risk as Low-Activity youth and each other. Understanding the relations of OST to youth healthy weight is a critical first step in developing healthy OST settings.

Competitive sports participation in high school and subsequent substance use in young adulthood: Assessing differences based on level of contact

The objective of this study is to examine how participation in different types of competitive sports (based on level of contact) during high school is associated with substance use 1 to 4 years after the 12th grade. The analysis uses nationally representative samples of 12th graders from the Monitoring the Future Study, who were followed 1 to 4 years after the 12th grade. The longitudinal sample consisted of 970 12th graders from six recent cohorts (2006–2011). The analyses, which controlled for 12th grade substance use, school difficulties, time with friends, and socio-demographic characteristics, found that respondents who participated in at least one competitive sport during the 12th grade had greater odds of binge drinking during the past two weeks (AOR = 2.04; 95% CI = 1.43, 2.90) 1 to 4 years after the 12th grade, when compared to their peers who did not participate in sports during their 12th grade year. Moreover, respondents who participated in high-contact sports (i.e. football, ice hockey, lacrosse, and wrestling) had greater odds of binge drinking (AOR = 1.80; 95% CI = 1.18, 2.72), and engaging in marijuana use during the past 30 days (AOR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.12, 2.93) 1 to 4 years after the 12th grade when compared to their peers who did not participate in these types of sports during their 12th grade year. Accordingly, the findings indicate important distinctions in sport participation experiences on long-term substance use risk that can help inform potential interventions among young athletes.

Physical and Social-Motivational Contextual Correlates of Youth Physical Activity in Underresourced Afterschool Programs

Afterschool programs (ASPs) have become increasingly recognized as a key context to support youth daily physical activity (PA) accrual. The purpose of the present study was to assess the physical and social-motivational climate characteristics of ASPs associated with youth PA, and variations in contextual correlates of PA by youth sex. Systematic observations of 7 ASPs serving underserved youth (minority, low income) was conducted using the System for Observing Play and Leisure Activity in Youth and a social-motivational climate observation tool founded on self-determination theory. For five program days at each site, teams of two coders conducted continuous observations of youth PA (sedentary, moderate, vigorous), five physical features (e.g., equipment availability), eight staff interactions (e.g., encourage PA), and seven motivational climate components (e.g., inclusive). Aligned with previous research, regressions controlling for variations by site indicated that organized PA, provision of portable equipment, and staff PA participation and supervision are key correlates of youth PA. Moreover, as the first study to systematically observe motivational-context characteristics of ASPs, we identified several key modifiable motivational features that are necessary to address in order to increase youth engagement in PA during the out-of-school hours. Among motivational features assessed, “relatedness” components (positive peer relations, inclusive/cooperative activities) were primary correlates of girls’ PA. In contrast, all three motivational features specified by self-determination theory (support for autonomy, mastery/competence, and inclusion/relatedness) were correlated with boys’ PA. Findings are discussed in terms of policy and practice for understanding strengths and needs of ASPs to effectively engage youth in PA.

Promoting physical activity within under-resourced afterschool programs: A qualitative investigation of staff experiences and motivational strategies for engaging youth

ABSTRACT Afterschool programs (ASPs) have become increasingly recognized as a key context to support youth daily physical activity (PA) accrual. Using Self-Determination Theory (SDT) as a framework, this study examined staff perspectives on the strengths and barriers within under-resourced ASPs for establishing a social-motivational climate for encouraging and supporting youth PA. Analysis of semi-structured staff interviews (28 staff; 7 ASPs) indicated that staff had knowledge and value for establishing a PA-supportive motivational climate. However, the feasibility of implementing PA curricula was identified as challenging across programs. Findings suggest increased need for staff training and supports to provide a PA climate that meets the developmental needs/interests of all youth, with particular attention toward increasing the PA of girls and older program youth. Furthermore, striking an appropriate balance between PA and other competing program demands (e.g., academics) will be required to optimize on the effectiveness of PA program components.

Out-of-School Activities

The activities in which youth engage during their out-of-school time (OST) can have major implications for the positive development of youth across adolescence. Research indicates that youth will derive the greatest benefits from their OST by participating in organized OST activities. This article addresses variations in youth engagement in OST activities, beginning first with a description of the influence of unorganized and unconstructive OST pursuits and progressing through to a discussion of constructive unorganized and organized activities. A detailed summary of outcomes related to involvement in particular types of constructive organized activities is provided. The article concludes with a discussion of various individual and environmental factors that influence the types of OST activities in which youth choose to participate.

Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) position statement: SBM supports curbing summertime weight gain among America’s youth

The Society of Behavioral Medicine recommends adoption of policies at the district, state, and federal levels that minimize weight gain among youth over the summertime, particularly among low-income, minority school-age youth who appear to be at greater risk. Policies that facilitate (1) partnerships between school districts and community organizations to provide affordable summertime programming, (2) strategic efforts by schools and communities to encourage families to enroll and attend summertime programming via the creation of community-wide summertime offerings offices, (3) adoption of joint-use/shared use agreements in communities to promote use of indoor and outdoor school facilities to provide affordable programming during the summer months, and (4) implementation of strategies that help summer programs achieve the Healthy Eating and Physical Activity (HEPA) standards which have been endorsed by the Healthy Out-of-School Time (HOST) coalition. Research is needed to elucidate key mechanisms by which involvement in structured programming may reduce weight gain over the summer months.

Effectiveness of a Playground Intervention for Antisocial, Prosocial, and Physical Activity Behaviors.

BACKGROUND We examined the effectiveness of Peaceful Playgrounds™ (P2) to decrease antisocial behaviors (ASB) while increasing physical activity (PA) and prosocial behaviors (PSB) in elementary school children. METHODS A longitudinal, cluster-randomized design was employed in 4 elementary school playgrounds where students (third to fifth) from 2 intervention and 2 control schools were observed during recess periods. The intervention included environmental changes (eg, marked surfaces) and student education. Data were collected using systematic observations of youth behavior and semistructured interviews conducted with key informants. Mixed-effects regression models controlling for scans nested within days nested within schools estimated the interaction of measurement period and treatment condition on childrens PA, PSB, and ASB. It was hypothesized that children in intervention, but not control schools, would demonstrate increased PA/PSB and decreased ASB. RESULTS Contrary to the hypotheses, intervention and control schools showed favorable changes for all dependent variables except for PSB, but 1 intervention and 1 control school drove these effects. Follow-up interviews indicated variability in implementation and lack of adherence to the control condition. CONCLUSIONS P2 may promote increased PA during recess, but these results demonstrate the complexity of intervention implementation and the need for rigor when measuring intervention fidelity in real-world settings.

Effects of Extracurricular Participation on the Internalizing Problems and Intrapersonal Strengths of Youth in a System of Care

Although extracurricular participation has been linked to positive youth outcomes in the general population, no research to date has examined benefits for youth diagnosed with mental health challenges. Youth in systems of care (SOCs) receive a variety of services and supports that could help them capitalize on this potential for positive development, such as access to flexible funding to support recreational interests. However, research has not examined the degree to which the increased community involvement (e.g., extracurricular participation) sought in SOCs contributes to improved outcomes. This study addresses these gaps by investigating the relationships between both average and increased extracurricular participation frequency and breadth and internalizing problems and intrapersonal strengths among SOC youth. Findings revealed that, on average, higher frequency of youth participation was associated with higher intrapersonal strengths and lower internalizing problems. Increases in participation frequency were also associated with increased strengths and decreased internalizing problems. These findings suggest that efforts to implement supports for increasing extracurricular participation of SOC youth could improve their psychosocial outcomes beyond the benefits yielded via formal services. Taken together, these results provide support for advocacy efforts to integrate youth with mental health challenges into existing extracurriculars and to create new extracurricular opportunities.

Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention

The prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescence has more than tripled in the last three decades (Hedley et al., 2004; Ogden, Flegal, Carroll, & Johnson, 2002; Troiano & Flegal, 1998). The sharp rise in overweight and obesity rates among youth has prompted major public health concerns in recent years (Olshansky et al., 2005). Body mass index (BMI) between the 85th and 95th percentile for age and sex is considered at-risk for overweight, and BMI above the 95th percentile is considered overweight or obese (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2001). Based on this sex-specific BMI for age criteria (see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts for all BMI ranges), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2008) reported that child and adolescent obesity had reached a national high with 17.0 % of youth considered overweight or obese. Moreover, if current trends continue, the prevalence of overweight in children and adolescents has been estimated to increase 1.6-fold to approximately 30 % by the year 2030 (Wang, Beydoun, Liang, Caballero, & Kumanyika, 2008).