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Impact of a six-month empowerment-based exercise intervention programme in non-physically active adolescent Swedish girls

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Author

  • Eva-Carin Lindgren
  • Amir Baigi
  • Erwin Apitzsch
  • Hakan Bergh

Summary, in English

Objective: This study evaluated changes in self-efficacy in non-physically active adolescent girls (13-19 years old) who participated in a six-month, empowerment-based exercise intervention programme (EIP). Design: The study used a pre- and post-test randomized group design and included one pre-and one posttest (at six months) and non-physically active adolescent girls (N = 110) were assigned to an intervention group (n = 54) or a comparison group (n = 56). Setting: Two upper secondary schools and five secondary schools, located in the low socio-economic areas of two communities in southern Sweden were involved in the study. Method: The Swedish version of a 10-item General Self-efficacy Scale (GSES) and the Social Barriers to Exercise Self-efficacy Questionnaire (SPBESQ) were used. In addition, BMI and results from a physical fitness test were measured. For statistical analysis, the Mann-Whitney U-test and the Wilcoxon's matched-pairs signed-rank test were used. Results: Analysis showed a statistically significant difference in GSES scores (p = 0.037) between the groups after the EIP was implemented. Girls in the intervention group had increased their levels of general perceived self-efficacy (p = 0.004). Both groups increased their level of physical fitness (intervention, p = 0.06 and control, p = 0.013). BMI increased in the control group (p = 0.031). Conclusions: The EIP had an impact on adolescent girls' general perceived self-efficacy and can be regarded as an outcome of empowerment that indicates the development of the adolescent girls' ability to effectively deal with a variety of stressful situations in general.

Publishing year

2011

Language

English

Pages

9-20

Publication/Series

Health Education Journal

Volume

70

Issue

1

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Topic

  • Psychology

Keywords

  • empowerment
  • exercise
  • girls
  • intervention
  • self-efficacy

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0017-8969