Refined Feasibility Testing of an 8-Week Sport and Physical Activity Intervention in a Rural Middle School

Janette M. Watkins, Janelle M. Goss, McKenna G. Major, Megan M. Kwaiser, Andrew M. Medellin, James M. Hobson, Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher and Kyle A. Kercher ()
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Janette M. Watkins: Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Janelle M. Goss: Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
McKenna G. Major: School of Medicine, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Megan M. Kwaiser: Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Andrew M. Medellin: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
James M. Hobson: White River Valley Middle School, Lyons, IN 47443, USA
Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher: Department of Health & Wellness Design, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA
Kyle A. Kercher: Department of Kinesiology, School of Public Health-Bloomington, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 7, 1-16

Abstract: This study examines how the 8-week Hoosier Sport program impacts cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks by promoting physical activity (PA) among rural, low-income children. Using a human-centered participatory co-design approach, the program aimed to increase PA levels (e.g., total PA, daily steps) in at-risk children. The present study explored the feasibility of the intervention as well as physiological and psychological changes across the intervention using a hybrid type 2 design (a model that evaluates both the effectiveness of an intervention and its implementation in real-world settings). Favorable feasibility indicators like attendance, acceptability, and compliance, with a 23.3% recruitment rate and 94.3% retention rate, were observed. Moreover, participants attended over 80% of sessions across the 8 weeks. Accelerometers (AX3) tracked daily steps and total PA for 7 days before and after the intervention, revealing increased PA levels throughout. At post-intervention, notable improvements were observed in psychological factors such as autonomy, social competence, and global self-worth. This study highlights the importance of tailored PA interventions in schools, emphasizing their potential to improve PA levels among rural, low-income children.

Keywords: strength training; feasibility testing; sport-based youth development; public health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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