Cited by 149Physical Activity and HealthObesity, Physical Activity, DietRecreational Sport and Physical Activity

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The Effectiveness of Interventions to Increase Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls: A Meta-analysis

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Pearson, Natalie, Braithwaite, Rock, Biddle, Stuart J.H.·2015·Academic Pediatrics

DOI 10.1016/j.acap.2014.08.009

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Abstract

Background Research has shown that a clear decline in physical activity among girls starting in early adolescence. Therefore, adolescent girls have been identified as a key target population for physical activity behavior change. The quantification of intervention effectiveness for this group has not been previously reported in a meta-analysis, and this therefore was the objective of the current meta-analysis.Study selection Included were interventions in which the main component, or 1 of the components, was aimed at promoting physical activity through behavior change in any setting. Interventions had to include a non-physical activity control group or comparison group, and include a quantitative outcome assessment of physical activity behavior in girls aged 12 to 18 years.Data sources Science Direct, PubMed, PsychINFO, Web of Science, Cochrane Libraries, and EPPI Centre databases were searched up to and including May 2013.Data extraction and synthesis Forty-five studies (k = 34 independent samples) were eligible from an initial 13,747 references. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted.Results The average treatment effect for adolescent girls involved in physical activity interventions was significant but small (g = 0.350, 95% confidence interval 0.12, 0.58, P < .001). Moderator analyses showed larger effects for interventions that were theory based, performed in schools, were girls only, with younger girls, used multicomponent strategies, and involved targeting both physical activity and sedentary behavior.Conclusions Interventions to increase physical activity in adolescent girls show small but significant effects, suggesting that behavior change may be challenging. Results suggest some approaches that appear to be successful.

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Authors: Pearson, N., Braithwaite, R., & Biddle, S. J. H.
Affiliations: Loughborough University (GB)
Cal Poly Humboldt (US)
ORCID: Pearson, Natalie
Biddle, Stuart J.H.
Venue: Academic Pediatrics
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2015-01
Volume: 15
Issue: 1
Pages: 9-18
ISSN: 1876-2859 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.acap.2014.08.009
OpenAlex: W2140197502
Cited by: 149
References: 104
Citations by year: 2026: 9 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 12 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 3
FWCI: 0.98
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: green
vuir.vu.edu.au
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
Locations: Academic Pediatrics (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Victoria University Research Repository (Victoria University) (submittedVersion)
Loughborough University Institutional Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Loughborough University Research Repository (Loughborough University) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Topics: Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Physical Activity and Health
Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Obesity, Physical Activity, Diet
Social Sciences › Life-span and Life-course Studies › Recreational Sport and Physical Activity
Keywords: physical activity, adolescent girls, behaviour change interventions, school-based intervention, theory-based intervention, multicomponent intervention, sedentary behavior, intervention effectiveness
MeSH terms: Adolescent, Adolescent Behavior, Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Motor Activity, Health Behavior, Exercise, Sedentary Behavior

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The Effectiveness of Interventions to Increase Physical Activity Among Adolescent Girls: A Meta-analysis

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