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Intervention construct validity procedures test the efficacy of a program to impact on targeted theory constructs. 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. 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). 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. PBA and MPBA have established construct validity. Intervention construct validity methods identified program strengths and weaknesses. Intervention construct validity is an evidence-based approach to program improvement. Intervention construct validity establishes a foundation for testing theory impact on health behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Appalachian youth are highconsumers of added dietary sugar and are very sedentary. Mentoring to be Active trains teens to deliver atheoretically 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 =.798). Moderate activity levels increased 16.5% (ES =.359). Vigorous activity increased 88% (ES =.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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Peer mentoring can be a powerful complement to health instruction. Mentoring has been used to change health behaviors and promote sustainable lifestyle patterns in adults and, more recently, among adolescents.Purpose:This article reviews the use of peer mentoring to promote health practices and describes how this approach can be used in school settings.Methods:A systematic review of the literature identified evaluation studies on the effectiveness of peer mentoring for promoting health behavior change is presented.Results:A growing literature supports peer mentoring as an effective approach to health behavior change. Peer mentoring allows for the incorporation of skill-building activities; reinforcement of self-regulation activities; engagement in individual and group activities; and social support to meet personal health goals.Translation to Health Education Practice:With peer mentors, the promotion of health behavior change can be tailored to personal interests, talents, and the contextual environment. Mentoring programs can benefit schools by establishing social networks using positive role models of health behaviors as mentors. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]