title: Association of a behaviorally based high school health education curriculum with increased exercise.
abstract: Increasing exercise in children and adolescents through academic classes is an understudied area. Potential benefits include associated improvements in health, psychosocial, and quality-of-life factors. A sample of 98 students (M(age) = 14.3) from high school health education classes received six, 40-min lessons incorporating cognitive-behavioral methods to increase exercise over 6 weeks. Significant within-group improvements in exercise, mood, and body satisfaction were found, with slightly larger effect sizes identified for the boys. Increase in exercise was significantly associated with reduced mood distress (β = -.17, p < .001). For the girls only, change in body satisfaction significantly mediated that relationship, and a reciprocal relationship between changes in mood and body satisfaction was also identified. Incorporation of lessons emphasizing goal setting and self-regulation within high school health education classes may foster increased exercise and associated improvements in mood and body satisfaction. For girls, the positive effects may reinforce one another.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion and Physical Education, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA Wellness Department, YMCA of Metro Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA jamesa@ymcaatlanta.org.
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Annesi
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, William Patterson University, Wayne, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Trinity
authors.affiliation: Wellstar School of Nursing, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mareno
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Walsh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000339:Affect; D001828:Body Image / Q000523:psychology; D003479:Curriculum; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012572:School Health Services; D012573:School Nursing / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors
keywords: evidence-based practice; exercise; health education; health/wellness