Girls United on the Move: A Unique Integrated Physical Activity and Psychosocial Program for At-risk Adolescent Girls

NCT ID: NCT03567200

Last Updated: 2019-10-04

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 83 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2018-01-10
• Study Completion Date: 2019-05-30

Brief Summary

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the effectiveness of a 9-week psycho-social and physical activity program aimed at improving body image, physical self-perceptions, and self-compassion for at-risk adolescent girls. In collaboration with the Elizabeth Fry Society, the GUM program will be delivered to at-risk adolescent girls within the Okanagan Region. Information will be gathered concerning program content and delivery, as well as insights into the participants' experiences with the program. These results will provide much needed information about whether programs integrating psychological, social, and physical components of health are beneficial for this population.

Detailed Description

Body dissatisfaction increases throughout adolescence; strong associations have been established between body image emotions and negative self--perceptions, reduced self-compassion, low self- esteem, and depression in adolescent girls. This is heightened in at--risk adolescent girls, including those of low socioeconomic status, who have experienced abuse and who have limited social support. As such, unique strategies aimed at reducing negative self--perceptions of one's physical self and improving self- compassion among at--risk adolescent girls are needed. Engagement in physical activity is one way in which adolescent girls may experience positive self--perceptions, enhanced body image emotions, and increased self--compassion, yet the research has primarily focused on girls who are already involved in organized physical activities (i.e., athletes). To address this need, the research team and representatives from the Central Okanagan Elizabeth Fry Society, a National charitable organisation dedicated to advancing the safety, legal rights, and economic security of women and children, have co--created the unique 9- week Girls United and on the Move (GUM) integrated program (psycho-social and physical activity) to improve physical self--perception, body image, and self--compassion among at--risk adolescent girls living in the Okanagan Region of British Columbia. This is particularly important in the Okanagan where there is a high number of adolescent girls from low income, abusive households, with many facing sexual exploitation and extreme despair, compared to other adolescent girls in British Columbia. Thus, the current aim is to implement and undertake a comprehensive evaluation of the program's effectiveness in terms of physical self--perceptions, body image, self--compassion, and commitment to and enjoyment of physical activity, in order to refine and deliver the program more widely.

This 9- week, integrated program will be implemented in up to 8 middle schools throughout the Okanagan. It includes a 1.5 hour, weekly session held at local schools and facilitated by a trained researcher and registered social worker. These sessions include psycho-social components (e.g., understanding healthy relationships, building self--confidence) in addition to engaging in various physical activities (e.g., soccer, dance, and martial arts). At--risk adolescent girls from the participating schools will be identified and recruited by school counsellors. Each school group will include 10- to 12 participants, yielding a total sample of approximately 80-100.

Conditions

Physical Activity

Study Design

• Allocation Method: NA
• Intervention Model: SINGLE_GROUP
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Single-Arm Feasibility

9-week, 1x/week, 90-minute face-to-face sessions.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Single-Arm Feasibility

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Participants in each of the 8 participating groups (N=10-12 per group) are exposed to an integrated intervention program (integration of physical activity and psychosocial components). Each session is co-facilitated by a trained research staff member and a registered social worker, providing participants with the opportunity to engage in physical activity behaviours as well as discuss various psychosocial topics that are applicable to the participants interests. Physical activities include participating in group activities such as rock climbing, self-defence, yoga, etc. Psychosocial topics addressed include group discussions around cyber-bullying, sexual abuse and exploitation, gender issues, etc.

Interventions

Single-Arm Feasibility

Participants in each of the 8 participating groups (N=10-12 per group) are exposed to an integrated intervention program (integration of physical activity and psychosocial components). Each session is co-facilitated by a trained research staff member and a registered social worker, providing participants with the opportunity to engage in physical activity behaviours as well as discuss various psychosocial topics that are applicable to the participants interests. Physical activities include participating in group activities such as rock climbing, self-defence, yoga, etc. Psychosocial topics addressed include group discussions around cyber-bullying, sexual abuse and exploitation, gender issues, etc.

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Other Intervention Names

Girls United and On the Move (GUM) Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Participants who identify with experiencing challenges with personal or family lives.
• Must identify as female between the ages of 11-15 years of age.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 11 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 15 Years
• Eligible Sex: FEMALE
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

University of British Columbia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Cristina Caperchione

Associate Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Cristina Caperchione, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of British Columbia

Locations

UBC Okanagan

Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Countries

Canada

References

Caperchione CM, Hargreaves N, Sabiston CM, Berg S, Kowalski KC, Ferguson LJ. Exploring the Effectiveness of an Integrated Physical Activity and Psychosocial Program Targeting At-Risk Adolescent Girls: Protocol for the Girls United and on the Move (GUM) Intervention Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2020 Jun 9;9(6):e15302. doi: 10.2196/15302.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 32515748 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

H17-01540

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id