title: An overview of "The Active by Choice Today" (ACT) trial for increasing physical activity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although school-based behavioral interventions for increasing physical activity (PA) in children and adolescents have been conducted, little evidence suggests that these curriculum-based approaches lead to increases in overall activity outside of program days. The overall goal of the "Active by Choice Today" (ACT) trial is to expand the body of knowledge concerning the factors that influence long-term increases in PA in underserved adolescents (low socioeconomic status, minorities) during their middle school years.
  
  
  METHODS
  An overview of the ACT study design, theoretical framework, process evaluation, and primary hypotheses is presented. The trial involves twenty-four middle schools (1560 6th graders) in South Carolina that are randomly assigned to one of two after-school programs (motivational and life skills intervention, or general health education).
  
  
  METHODS
  The intervention integrates constructs from Self-Determination and Social Cognitive Theories to enhance intrinsic motivation and behavioral skills for PA. The intervention targets skill development for PA outside of program days and the after-school program social environment (autonomy, choice, participation, belongingness, fun, enjoyment, support) is designed to positively impact cognitive mediators (self-efficacy, perceived competence), and motivational orientation (intrinsic motivation, commitment, positive self-concept). MAIN HYPOTHESES/OUTCOMES: It is hypothesized that the 17-week motivational and life skills intervention will lead to greater increases in moderate-to-vigorous PA (based on 7-day accelerometry estimates) at post-intervention as compared to the general health education program.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implications of this innovative school-based trial are discussed.
authors: Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. dkwilson@sc.edu
authors: Dawn K
authors: DK
authors: Wilson
authors: Heather
authors: H
authors: Kitzman-Ulrich
authors: Joel E
authors: JE
authors: Williams
authors: Ruth
authors: R
authors: Saunders
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Griffin
authors: Russell
authors: R
authors: Pate
authors: M Lee
authors: ML
authors: Van Horn
authors: Alexandra
authors: A
authors: Evans
authors: Brent
authors: B
authors: Hutto
authors: Cheryl L
authors: CL
authors: Addy
authors: Gary
authors: G
authors: Mixon
authors: Susan B
authors: SB
authors: Sisson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000523:psychology*; D009042:Motivation; D012572:School Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
references: J Sch Health. 1993 May;63(5):218-23
references: 8336479
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1997 Jan;29(1):138-43
references: 9000167
references: Health Educ Behav. 2000 Apr;27(2):157-66
references: 10768797
references: Health Promot Pract. 2005 Apr;6(2):134-47
references: 15855283
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Sep;36(9):1637-45
references: 15354049
references: Health Educ Res. 1995 Mar;10(1):11-25
references: 10150419
references: Psychol Bull. 1999 Nov;125(6):627-68; discussion 692-700
references: 10589297
references: Res Q Exerc Sport. 2000 Sep;71(3):267-79
references: 10999264
references: J Clin Epidemiol. 1996 Feb;49(2):125-34
references: 8606313
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 Sep;36(9):1625-31
references: 15354047
references: Prev Med. 1997 Mar-Apr;26(2):241-7
references: 9085394
references: Br J Educ Psychol. 1994 Nov;64 ( Pt 3):453-63
references: 7811633
references: J Am Diet Assoc. 1994 Jul;94(7):771-2
references: 8021419
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005 Nov;37(11 Suppl):S555-62
references: 16294118
references: Am J Prev Med. 2006 Dec;31(6):475-83
references: 17110077
references: Am J Prev Med. 1998 Nov;15(4):266-97
references: 9838973
references: Eval Program Plann. 2006 Aug;29(3):260-268
references: 21048891
references: Eval Rev. 1996 Jun;20(3):291-312
references: 10182206
references: Am J Prev Med. 1997 Mar-Apr;13(2):115-22
references: 9088448
references: Prev Med. 2004 May;38(5):628-36
references: 15066366
references: Ann Behav Med. 2002 Fall;24(4):310-9
references: 12434942
references: Ann Behav Med. 1999 Spring;21(1):12-9
references: 18425649
references: Am Psychol. 2000 Jan;55(1):68-78
references: 11392867
references: J Adolesc Health. 2005 Nov;37(5):403-8
references: 16227126
references: Am J Public Health. 1991 Dec;81(12):1636-8
references: 1746661
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004 May;36(5):876-82
references: 15126724
references: Eval Program Plann. 2006 Nov;29(4):352-64
references: 17950863
references: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 1999 Apr;153(4):409-18
references: 10201726
references: J Sch Health. 2000 Apr;70(4):141-7
references: 10790837
references: JAMA. 1988 Sep 23-30;260(12):1728-33
references: 3411756
references: J Am Diet Assoc. 1947 May;23(5):403-9
references: 20296095
references: Ann Behav Med. 2005 Oct;30(2):119-24
references: 16173908
references: Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2005 Mar;37(3):478-87
references: 15741848