Research Institute of Sport and Exercise Science, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
Population Health Science, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
BMC Public Health. 2024 Aug 3;24(1):2098. doi: 10.1186/s12889-024-19664-7.
Engaging in physical activity (PA) during adolescence is beneficial for health and positive development. However, most adolescent girls have low PA levels, and there is a need for interventions outside of school hours. This pilot randomised controlled trial aimed to explore the preliminary effectiveness of three different remote PA interventions in increasing adolescent girls' moderate-to- vigorous PA (MVPA), fitness and psychosocial outcomes.
Girls living in the UK or Ireland, aged between 13 and 16 years old, who wished to increase their activity levels, were eligible for the study. Using a random number generator, participants (n = 153; 14.8y ± 1.4) were randomised into one of three 12-week intervention groups (i) PA programme, (ii) Behaviour change support, or (iii) Combined PA programme and Behaviour change support, or (iv) a Comparison group. Outcome measures included accelerometer and self-reported PA, physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness; 20 m shuttle run, muscular endurance; push up, muscular strength; long jump), and psychosocial assessments (perceived competence; body appreciation; self-esteem; behavioural regulation). Linear mixed models were used to analyse differences between each intervention arm and the comparison group immediately postintervention (12 weeks) and at follow up (3-months post-intervention), while adjusting for potential confounders.
Participation in the PA programme group was associated with higher perceived competence (0.6, 95% CI 0.1 to 1.2), identified regulation (0.7, 95% CI 0.2 to 1.1) and intrinsic motivation (0.9, 95% CI 0.2 to 1.6) at post-intervention. Participation in the Behaviour change group was associated with higher perceived competence at post-intervention (0.6, 95% CI 0.1 to 1.2), and higher push-up scores at the 3-month follow-up (4.0, 95% CI 0.0 to 7.0). Participation in the Combined group was also associated with higher perceived competence at post-intervention (0.8, 95% CI 0.2 to 1.4), and higher push-up scores at the 3-month follow-up (5.0, 95% CI 1.0 to 8.0). No other significant differences were found between the intervention arms and the comparison group.
Results suggest perceived competence increased across all intervention arms, while the PA programme group enhanced autonomous motivation in the short term. Intervention arms with behaviour change support appear most promising in improving muscular endurance. However, a larger scale trial is needed for a better understanding of between-group differences and the impact of intervention arms on MVPA and fitness, given the small sample size and short-term follow-up.
青少年时期进行身体活动（PA）有益于健康和积极发展。然而，大多数青春期女孩的身体活动水平较低，需要在课外时间进行干预。本试验性随机对照试验旨在探讨三种不同的远程 PA 干预措施在增加青春期女孩的中等至剧烈身体活动（MVPA）、健康和心理社会结果方面的初步效果。
符合条件的研究对象为居住在英国或爱尔兰的 13 至 16 岁的女孩，她们希望增加活动水平。使用随机数生成器，将 153 名参与者（14.8y±1.4）随机分为四组之一：（i）PA 方案，（ii）行为改变支持，（iii）PA 方案和行为改变支持相结合，或（iv）比较组。结果测量包括加速度计和自我报告的 PA、身体健康（心肺健康；20m 穿梭跑，肌肉耐力；俯卧撑，肌肉力量；跳远）和心理社会评估（感知能力；身体欣赏；自尊；行为调节）。线性混合模型用于分析每个干预组与对照组在干预后（12 周）和随访（干预后 3 个月）时的差异，同时调整了潜在的混杂因素。
参加 PA 方案组在干预后，感知能力（0.6，95%置信区间 0.1 至 1.2）、认同调节（0.7，95%置信区间 0.2 至 1.1）和内在动机（0.9，95%置信区间 0.2 至 1.6）更高。参加行为改变组在干预后感知能力更高（0.6，95%置信区间 0.1 至 1.2），3 个月随访时俯卧撑成绩更高（4.0，95%置信区间 0.0 至 7.0）。参加联合组在干预后感知能力也更高（0.8，95%置信区间 0.2 至 1.4），3 个月随访时俯卧撑成绩更高（5.0，95%置信区间 1.0 至 8.0）。干预组与对照组之间没有发现其他显著差异。
结果表明，所有干预组的感知能力都有所提高，而 PA 方案组在短期内增强了自主动机。具有行为改变支持的干预组在提高肌肉耐力方面似乎最有希望。然而，由于样本量小和短期随访，需要更大规模的试验来更好地理解组间差异和干预组对 MVPA 和健康的影响。
