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Published on: March 7, 2019
A Controlled Evaluation of a CBPR Intervention's Effects on Physical Activity and the Related Psychosocial Constructs
Insights
A 4-week Community-Based Participatory Research intervention significantly increased moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and related knowledge and skills in underserved rural children. These factors also mediated MVPA improvements.
Area of Science:
- Childhood health
- Public health interventions
- Community-Based Participatory Research
Background:
- Childhood health behaviors track into adulthood, necessitating effective physical activity interventions.
- Risk factors for chronic diseases emerge early in life.
- No prior studies examined Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) for improving physical activity in underserved children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if a CBPR intervention improves moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in underserved rural children.
- To assess improvements in psychosocial constructs (self-efficacy, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, skills) related to MVPA.
- To investigate if these constructs mediate MVPA changes.
Main Methods:
- Two fifth-grade classes were randomized into intervention and comparison groups.
- The intervention group received a 4-week program targeting MVPA and psychosocial constructs.
- Moderate to vigorous physical activity was measured using accelerometers; psychosocial constructs were assessed via surveys.
Main Results:
- No baseline differences were observed between groups.
- The intervention group showed significantly higher MVPA, knowledge, and skill scores post-intervention.
- Knowledge and skills were identified as significant mediators of MVPA.
Conclusions:
- Community-Based Participatory Research interventions show promise for improving children's physical activity.
- Further research is needed to evaluate the sustained impact of CBPR interventions in similar populations.
Background:
Effective physical activity interventions are needed for children because health behaviors track into adulthood, and risk factors for diseases begin early in life. No study has determined whether an intervention designed using a Community-Based Participatory Research approach can improve moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and the related psychosocial constructs in underserved children. This study determined whether improvements in MVPA and related psychosocial constructs (self-efficacy, knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and skills) occurred following a Community-Based Participatory Research intervention in underserved, rural children. It was then determined if these constructs were mediators of MVPA.
Methods:
Two fifth-grade classes at a school (n = 19 and n = 20) were randomly assigned to an intervention or comparison group. The intervention group participated in a 4-week intervention designed to improve MVPA (wGT3X-BT accelerometer; ActiGraph, Pensacola, FL) and the related psychosocial constructs (written survey). Groups were assessed prior to and immediately following the intervention.
Results:
There were no differences at baseline between groups. MVPA (30.0 [4.4] min), knowledge, and skill scores were significantly higher in the intervention group compared with the comparison group at follow-up (P < .05). Knowledge and skills were mediating variables of MVPA.
Conclusions:
Priority should be placed on research that determines the sustained impact of similar Community-Based Participatory Research interventions.
