While culturally diverse, Appalachia has been described as a “region apart.”
Isolated by a mountainous region, Appalachians value neighborliness, love of home and reliance on oneself rather than on outsiders intent on helping. Statistically, the region lags behind the nation and Ohio in most socioeconomic and health indicators, including: poverty, housing, education, employment, health behaviors, health outcomes and overall quality of life.
Appalachians are also the most sedentary population in the U.S. Only 13.6 percent of teens reported 60 minutes of daily moderate activity, and 78.2 percent reported no vigorous physical activity in the past week.
Rick Petosa, Human Sciences, and Laureen Smith, College of Nursing, have received a $2 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to conduct a randomized control trial (RCT) of an innovative method to promote regular exercise among adolescents. The purpose is to increase physical activity patterns and improve health outcomes in Appalachian teens.
The approach uses peer mentors to deliver the culturally appropriate, self-regulation intervention to sustain physical activity. The study will compare the efficacy of the mentoring program (Mentored Planning to be Active [MBA]) to a teacher-led program (PBA) for increasing physical activity in Appalachian high school teens. They will test the hypothesis that, compared to delivery by teachers (PBA) in a classroom setting, an innovative delivery format of MBA by local peer mentors will promote the adoption of healthier physical activity and regular exercise among teens by combining peer mentoring with a tailored self-regulation lifestyle program.
This study will guide the development of more effective and sustainable interventions (currently lacking) specifically targeting residents of Appalachia, a region with disproportionately high prevalence rates of childhood obesity and significant challenges to achieving healthy lifestyles.
The current study will take place over the next four years, involving 20 schools and over 1,700 students. Rick Petosa observed, “Over the past 10 years we have found southern Ohio schools very supportive of innovative programs and collaboration with The Ohio State University.”
Laureen Smith adds, “Our mentoring approach provides a sustainable means for schools to provide needed health and exercise information in a culturally appropriate yet flexible and adaptable way.”
For more information about this award, contact Rick Petosa.
This article first appeared in the Fall 2015 issue of In Review, the EHE Office of Research Newsletter.
