ERIC Number: EJ869302
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2008
Pages: 10
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0273-446X
EISSN: N/A
Adolescents and Teachers as Partners in a School-Based Research Project to Increase Physical Activity Opportunities in a Rural Community
Rye, James; Tompkins, Nancy O'Hara; McClure, Darlene; Aleshire, Jacqueline
Rural Educator, v30 n1 p39-48 Fall 2008
Schools are an important resource in combating the physical inactivity and obesity epidemics in rural economically depressed areas. Through a University-community partnership, teachers and adolescents in a rural West Virginia county with one of the highest obesity rates in the state developed a school-based research intervention to increase physical activity opportunities. The intervention included walking routes, educational sessions, and pedometers. A survey about barriers to physical activity revealed that "lack of willpower" was a barrier of concern among program participants (mostly school employees) and had a statistically significant (p = 0.0033) pre to post mean score decrease during the year two offering. Focus groups with the adolescent researchers revealed that pedometers may facilitate maintenance of physical activity and a broader community impact. Focus group dialogue combined with teacher-researcher perspectives suggested that the adolescents changed their weight control paradigm from "dieting" to include the critical role of energy expenditure. (Contains 1 table and 2 figures.)
Descriptors: Obesity, Intervention, Physical Activities, Partnerships in Education, Physical Activity Level, Focus Groups, Adolescents, Poverty Areas, College School Cooperation, Electronic Equipment, Surveys, Body Weight, Rural Areas, Program Descriptions, Health Promotion, Scores, Statistical Analysis
National Rural Education Association. Rural Educator, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 Maryland Parkway Box 453002, Las Vegas, NV 89154-3002. Tel: 702-895-3478; Fax: 702-895-3492; e-mail: ruraleducator@ccmail.nevada.edu; Web site: http://www.unlv.edu/journals/ruraleducator/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: West Virginia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A