title: Physical Activity and Social Cognitive Theory Outcomes of an Internet-Enhanced Physical Activity Intervention for African American Female College Students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  African American women report low levels of physical activity (PA) and are disproportionately burdened by related chronic diseases. This pilot study tested a 6-month theory-based (Social Cognitive Theory, SCT) culturally-relevant website intervention to promote PA among African American female college students.
  
  
  METHODS
  A single group pre-post test design (n=34) was used. PA and associated SCT constructs (outcome expectations, enjoyment, self-regulation, social support) were assessed at baseline, 3 months and 6 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The sample was comprised of mostly obese (MBMI= 35.4,SD=6.82) young adults (Mage= 21.21 years,SD=2.31). Fifty percent of the sample completed all assessments. Intent-to-treat analyses showed that participants reported a significant median improvement in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity from 82.5 minutes/week (M=81.76,SD=76.23) at baseline to 115.0 minutes/week (M=122.44,SD=97.93) at 3 months (Wilcoxon z=2.39, p=.02). However these gains appear to have attenuated by 6 months (Median= 82.5 minutes/week,M=96.73,SD=84.20;Wilcoxon z=1.02,p=.31). Significant increases from baseline to 6 months were found in self-regulation for PA(p=.02)and social support for PA from friends (p=.02). Changes in the SCT variables were not significantly associated with changes in PA; however, this may have been due to small sample size.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Future studies with larger samples and more aggressive retention strategies (e.g., more frequent incentives, prompts for website use) are needed to further explore the applicability of web-based approaches to promote PA in this at-risk population.
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Rodney P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Dorothy W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Pekmezi
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Public Health.
authors.forename: Terri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Division of Preventive Medicine.
authors.forename: Gareth
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dutton
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama, College of Human Environmental Sciences.
authors.forename: Lori W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.affiliation: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.
authors.forename: Nefertiti H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Durant
keywords: African American Women; Exercise; Internet; Physical Activity; Social Cognitive Theory; Website