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Background: Intervention construct validity procedures test the efficacy of a program to impact on targeted theory constructs. Purpose: To examine the intervention construct validity of the Planning to be Active (PBA) and Mentored Planning to be Active (MPBA) programs on high school youth residing in Appalachia. Methods: Twenty high schools in Appalachia were randomly assigned to either the teacher lead PBA program or the peer mentor led MPBA program. All participants (n = 633) completed a set of valid and reliable instruments assessing SCT variables: social support for exercise friends, social support for exercise family, self-efficacy for exercise and the self-regulation skills (behavioral goal setting, exercise self-monitoring, building social support, overcoming barriers, and self-reward). Results: PBA and MPBA are effective approaches to increasing social support, self-efficacy for exercise and increasing the use of self-regulation skills to increase physical activity. The results identify constructs that were not improved suggesting areas for curriculum refinement. Discussion: PBA and MPBA have established construct validity. Intervention construct validity methods identified program strengths and weaknesses. Translation to Health Education Practice: Intervention construct validity is an evidence-based approach to program improvement. Intervention construct validity establishes a foundation for testing theory impact on health behaviors.

Appalachian youth are highconsumers of added dietary sugar and are very sedentary. "Mentoring to be Active" trains teens to deliver a theoretically based program to promote home-based physical activity (PA) and reduce dietary sugar among rural Appalachian youth. For this pre-test/post-test pilot study, 52 seventh graders from two Appalachian schools participated as mentees. Twenty-two 10th grade students served as peer mentors. The study estimated sedentary activity, and physical activity by accelerometers and dietary sugars (snacks, beverages) during 'out of school' time. Descriptive statistics and effect sizes (ES) were calculated. When the pre-post standard deviations differed, Hedge's g were reported. Sedentary activity decreased 36.7% (ES = 0.798). Moderate activity levels increased 16.5% (ES = 0.359). Vigorous activity increased 88% (ES = 0.359). Sugary-beverages declined over 4 ½ servings. Sugary snacks declined 2 ¼ servings. Peer mentoring is a strategy to promote social support for healthier behaviors among youth at risk for obesity and co-morbidities. Accelerometers rigorously assessed physical activity during 'out of school' time in rural youth. [Written with Ms. Jeffrey.]

Aims: To explore how emerging adult‐aged women self‐manage their sexual and reproductive health and to generate a grounded theory of these self‐management processes. Design: Grounded theory methods using a constructivist approach. Methods: Between September 2019 and September 2020, 18‑ to 25‐years‐old women (n = 13) were recruited from a 4‐year university, a 2‐year community college, and neighbourhoods surrounding the institutions of higher education. Individual interviews were transcribed verbatim and qualitatively analysed using a constant comparative method and inductive coding. Results: The theory purports that core processes of sexual and reproductive health self‐management used by the women in this study included both passive and (re)active processes. These processes expanded upon and/or maintained the women's accessible sexual and reproductive health knowledge, behaviour and beliefs, defined as the sexual and reproductive health repertoire. The processes appeared to be cyclical and were often initiated by a catalysing event or catalyst and resulted in conversations with confidantes, or trusted individuals. A catalyst was either resolved or normalized by expanding or maintaining the sexual and reproductive health repertoire. Conclusion: The resulting theory, EMeRGE Theory, offers insight into the complex and cyclical processes emerging adult‐aged women use to simultaneously develop and adapt their foundational sexual and reproductive health knowledge, behaviours and beliefs. Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care: This explication of emerging adult‐aged women's sexual and reproductive health self‐management processes can be used by nurses and nurse researchers to better address this population's unique health needs. Impact: The EMeRGE Theory provides valuable guidance for future exploratory and intervention research aimed at improving the health and well‐being of emerging adult‐aged women. Reporting Method: The authors adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative studies (COREQ) in preparation of this publication. Patient or Public Contribution: No patient or public contribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]