An overview of "The Active by Choice Today" (ACT) trial for increasing physical activity.
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.
Wilson
Dawn K
DK
Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. dkwilson@sc.edu
Kitzman-Ulrich
Heather
H
Williams
Joel E
JE
Saunders
Ruth
R
Griffin
Sarah
S
Pate
Russell
R
Van Horn
M Lee
ML
Evans
Alexandra
A
Hutto
Brent
B
Addy
Cheryl L
CL
Mixon
Gary
G
Sisson
Susan B
SB
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
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