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The study purpose was to examine whether adolescents who participated in organized physical activity (PA) programs differed from nonparticipants in motivation, social support, and self-efficacy related to PA; PA (min/hr); and sedentary screen time behavior. Thirty-nine 5th–7th grade adolescents participated in organized PA programs; 41 did not. Approximately 56.3% were Black, and 52.5% had annual family incomes <$20,000. Compared to nonparticipants, those who participated reported significantly higher social support (M = 2.32 vs. 3.13, p <.001) and fewer hours watching television or movies on a usual weekend day (M = 2.49 vs. 1.59, p =.016); and had higher accelerometer-measured vigorous PA (M = 0.58 vs. 1.04, p =.009) and moderate-to-vigorous PA (M = 2.48 vs. 3.45, p =.035). Involving adolescents in organized PA programs may be important for improving their moderate-to-vigorous PA, vigorous PA, and related psychosocial factors, as well as reducing sedentary screen time behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Investigate the associations between psychosocial factors and physical activity. Design: Secondary data analysis utilizing baseline data of a large-scale community-based randomized controlled lifestyle behavior intervention. Setting: The Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children in Michigan, USA. Subjects: Low-income overweight or obese mothers with young children (N = 740, 65% response rate). Measures: Survey data were collected via phone interview. Predictors included self-efficacy, autonomous motivation, emotional coping, and social support. Self-reported leisure physical activity was the outcome variable. Covariates were age, race, smoking, employment, education, body mass index, and postpartum status. Analysis: A multiple linear regression model was applied. Results: Self-efficacy (β =.32, 95% CI =.11,.52, P =.003) and autonomous motivation (β =.10, 95% CI =.03,.17, P =.005) were positively associated with physical activity. However, emotional coping and social support were not associated with physical activity. Conclusion: Future research should examine the longitudinal association of key psychosocial factors with physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Mothers In Motion (MIM), a community-based lifestyle behavioral intervention, was designed and conducted to help low-income overweight and obese young mothers prevent further weight gain via promotion of stress management, healthy eating, and physical activity. This paper presents intervention effect on body weight (primary outcome) and summarizes lessons learned.Methods: Participants (N = 612) were recruited from 7 Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) offices in Michigan and were individually randomized to an intervention n= 410) or a comparison (n =202) group (2: 1 ratio). During the 16-week intervention, intervention participants watched theory-based culturally sensitive videos (in DVD format) featuring peers from the target audience to learn skills for managing stress, eating healthier, and being more physically active. They also dialed into peer support group teleconferences to enhance skills learned in the videos and increase motivation for lifestyle behavioral changes. Body weight, the primary outcome, was measured at baseline, immediately after the 16-week intervention, and 3 months after the 16-week intervention. Intervention effect was tested via general linear mixed model for repeated measures, using baseline measures as adjusting covariates.Results: At baseline, the mean age of the participants was 28.5 ± 5.0 years (intervention: 28.4 ± 5.0, comparison: 28.9 ± 5.0); the mean body weight was 190.2 ± 1.4 lbs (intervention: 191.8 ± 30.0, comparison: 188.5 ± 29.1); and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 32.2 ± 4.4 (intervention: 32.2 ± 4.4, comparison: 31.7 ± 4.2). Of sample, 64.7% were obese. At 3 months after the 16-week intervention, no significant weight differences were found between the intervention (188.3 ± 10.6 lbs, BMI: 31.6 ± 1.8) and comparison groups (187.7 ± 10.6 lbs, BMI: 31.53 ± 1.8) when controlling for baseline body weight.Conclusions: This lifestyle behavioral intervention that focused on stress management, healthy eating and physical activity was not effective in helping low-income overweight and obese young mothers prevent further weight gain.Trial Registration: Clinical Trials NCT01839708 . This trial was registered retrospectively on February 28, 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to identify factors that influenced stress, healthy eating and physical activity among low-income overweight or obese pregnant women. We conducted seven focus groups with 96 low-income overweight and obese pregnant women. Common themes were identified from audio tapes and transcripts. Women said that poor communication affected their relationships with spouses or significant others. They were frustrated or upset with significant others for three key reasons: failure to understand or listen to the pregnant women's pregnancy concerns, refusal to be helpful when asked and being overly concerned with the woman's safety. Most women said that they were emotional and took naps throughout the day after becoming pregnant. Many withdrew from their social interactions. They also faced numerous challenges that made healthy eating more difficult, e.g., craving for unhealthy foods and eating foods for comfort. To eat healthier, some reminded themselves to avoid overeating or stop eating in the car. Women were not physically active because of tiredness, lack of motivation, inadequate social support, or bad weather. Some stayed physically active to prevent excessive pregnancy weight gain and have an easier labor. Women equivocally said weighing themselves to manage weight would add to their stress and make them feel more depressed. When designing interventions to help low-income overweight and obese pregnant women avoid excessive pregnancy weight gain, it is important to include information and practical advice on stress management, emphasizing effective communication skills with significant others and helping them plan effective ways to manage negative feelings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]