Date of Award
2017-01-01
Degree Name
M.P.H.
Department
Public Health
Advisor(s)
Leah Whigham
Abstract
Background: Physical activity rates have decreased in the past 30 years. Physical activity rates decline further among girls as they reach adolescence, yet studies suggest girls are more inclined to participate in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) while among peers. When in close social networks, girls who have more physically active friends report being more active themselves. Several mentor-based programs throughout the United States have increased physical activity among preadolescent girls, indicating that gender-relevant physical activity programs may reverse their declining rates of physical activity.
Purpose: To evaluate if participation in a gender-relevant physical activity after-school program influenced participants' aerobic fitness, body composition, and physical activity self-efficacy.
Methods: Data were collected at baseline (T1) and mid-program (3 months, T2) for each variable (estimated VO2max, body fat mass, lean body mass, and physical activity self-efficacy) within the control and intervention groups. Two-way ANOVA was conducted to examine the effect of the program intervention and time on each outcome variable.
Results: There were no significant differences for estimated VO2max or physical activity self-efficacy. There was a statistically significant effect on body fat mass by group, by time, and for the interaction (group x time): control (14.69±7.09kg at T1 and 16.05±7.27kg at T2) and Aggie Play (10.49±7.96kg at T1 and 10.61±7.91kg at T2); group F(df 1)=3.87, p<0.01; time F(df 1)=22.9, p<0.01; and group x time F(df 1)=16.03, p<0.01. There was a statistically significant effect on lean body mass by time and interaction (group x time), but not for the group effect: control (28.82 ± 6.56kg at T1 and 29.05 ± 6.63kg at T2) and Aggie Play (26.12 ± 5.47kg at T1 and 26.98 ± 5.70kg at T2); group F(df 1)= 1.69, p=0.02; time F(df 1)=15.7, p<0.01; and group x time F(df 1)=5.09, p<0.01.
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that after a three-month midpoint analysis a mentor-based after-school physical activity program can be beneficial. A major finding of the effectiveness of the program was the improvement in body composition.
Language
en
Provenance
Received from ProQuest
Copyright Date
2017-08
File Size
53 pages
File Format
application/pdf
Rights Holder
Vianay Lopez
Recommended Citation
Lopez, Vianay, "Evaluation of a Gender-Relevant Physical Activity After-School Program" (2017). Open Access Theses & Dissertations. 485.
https://scholarworks.utep.edu/open_etd/485