School of Public Health

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The collections in this community comprise faculty research works, as well as graduate theses and dissertations.

Note: Prior to July 1, 2007, the School of Public Health was named the College of Health & Human Performance.

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Subject: search.filters.subject.Adolescent girls

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    IDENTIFYING BARRIERS AND FACILITATORS OF LEISURE TIME PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THROUGH THE EXPERIENCES OF 16-18 YEAR OLD AFRICAN AMERICAN/BLACK GIRLS: A GROUNDED THEORY STUDY
    (2020) Zeeger, Tracy; Gold, Robert S; Public and Community Health; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Among older adolescent African American/Black girls, obesity rates continue to rise between the ninth and 12th grades, whereas among white females, rates decline. Contributing to these high rates is the lack of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA) among youth. Nationwide, 95% of older adolescents (ages 16-18) are not meeting federal guidelines for physical activity. Older adolescent African American/Black girls are less likely to report LTPA when compared to their peers. Current approaches are not adequately addressing reduced LTPA among African American/Black older adolescent girls, requiring a return to the population affected to better understand this problem. To address this need, the current grounded theory dissertation study aimed to develop a grounded theory model of barriers and facilitators to LTPA among older adolescent African American/Black girls. Enrolled in the study were 16 African American/Black girls (N=16) aged 16-18 (M=16.7) years. Nine participants were classified as exercisers and seven as non-exercisers. All participants attended high school in Prince George’s County, Maryland. Each participant took part in an in-depth individual qualitative interview, conducted at a private, quiet location of their choice. Using constructivist grounded theory methods (CGT), analysis of the interview data occurred across four phases: open, focused, axial, and theoretical coding. CGT analysis resulted in a behavioral process theory explaining barriers and facilitators of LTPA among African American/Black older adolescent girls, grounded in youths’ own experiences. The theory, anchored by the core category of Choosing to Engage in LTPA, has five related categories: Being Autonomously Motivated, Perceiving Control Over Time, Knowing About Exercise, Experiencing the Influence of Others, and Receiving Messages About One’s Body. Each theoretical category includes multiple properties and dimensions, such as understanding the benefits of LTPA outside of weight loss, believing exercise is fun, and having confidence in the ability to exercise. Multiple influences across family, community, and societal systems shaped participants’ attitudes and beliefs. The results of this study contribute to a growing body of research on physical activity among older adolescents. These findings can inform the development and testing of feasibility in an afterschool LTPA intervention, as well as school physical education curriculum and policy.
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    TIME TRENDS IN OVERALL DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK FACTORS BY ORGANIZED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PARTICIPATION IN ADOLESCENT GIRLS
    (2009) Phillips, Jennifer; Young, Deborah Rohm; Kinesiology; Digital Repository at the University of Maryland; University of Maryland (College Park, Md.)
    Many youth are involved in organized physical activity (PA); however, the impact of these activities on daily PA, body fat, and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors is not well understood. Purpose: To compare the overall daily PA and CVD risk factors of girls who participate in organized activities to non-participants throughout adolescence. Methods: Data from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Growth and Health Study, a 10-year observational study of Black and White girls (N=2379), were analyzed. Organized PA was defined as participation in classes/lessons and sports (0, <4, 4-19.99, ≥20 MET times/wk). Outcomes included daily PA (3-day diary), body fat (bioelectrical impedance analysis), lipids, glucose, insulin, and blood pressure. Longitudinal data were examined for each outcome using a mixed model with repeated measures. Girls were also categorized by the number of years they reported ≥4 MET times/wk of organized PA. Outcomes and risk clustering at 18-19y were evaluated with ANOVA and logistic regression, respectively, by number of participation years. Results: Organized PA and participation*time*race were related to change in daily PA and body fat (p < 0.0001). Although daily PA declined for Black girls, those with ≥20 MET times/wk had higher PA levels than all other girls (p < 0.0001). Change differed by sports participation in White girls (p=0.019); those involved ≥20 MET times/wk demonstrated better maintenance of daily PA. Black girls with ≥20 MET times/wk had significantly lower body fat than non-participants (p=0.002).White non-participants had higher body fat than those with 4-19.99 MET times/wk (p=0.006). Accumulated organized PA was related to daily PA and body fat at 18-19y. Girls who never reported participation had significantly lower daily PA at 18-19y than all other groups (p < 0.02), and significantly higher body fat at 18-19y compared to girls who reported 4y of sports participation (p=0.038). Organized PA was not related to change in other CVD risk factors or risk factor clustering at 18-19y (OR=1.05, 95% CI=0.87-1.27, p=0.59). Conclusion: Organized PA was related to daily PA and body fat for Black and White girls throughout adolescence. Appealing options should be made available and participation encouraged.