Background/Objectives Results Physical Activity and Self-Esteem in Mother-Daughter Dyads Participating in a Physical Activity and Positive Youth Development Program Ana C. Monterrey, MD1, Margaret S Wood, MD1, Beth H. Garland, PhD2 and Sherin E Wesley, MD2 1Academic General Pediatrics Fellow, Baylor College of Medicine 2Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine Background/Objectives Results Background: Physical activity (PA) can improve child health and psychological well being. However, African American and Hispanic youth are less likely to meet the recommended levels of PA. One well-established PA and positive youth development program designed for 3rd-5th grade girls, along with a parent partner, incorporates lessons and PA that encourage healthy habits and build confidence. Studies evaluating the program using validated questionnaires have shown improvements in PA levels, commitment to PA, and self-esteem, but most of this research has been conducted in a predominately White non-Hispanic population.1,2 There is also little data available on how parents are affected by interventions their children participate in. Finding effective interventions that encourage active lifestyles among minority populations is essential. Objectives: Assess whether a youth sports program is effective at increasing PA and improving self-esteem in minority low-income youth and their parent partner. Table 1: Sample Demographics   Overall (N=7) N % Age of girls (years) 8 1 14.3 9 2 28.6 10 4 57.1 Grade 3rd 4th 5th Race/Ethnicity Hispanic/Latino 6 85.7 White Language spoken at home English 3 42.9 Spanish Both English and Spanish Household income < 40,000 5 71.4 40,000 - 60,000 > 60,000 Health insurance Yes Days/week of School PE 0-2 Abstract Background: Youth sports programs can help improve child health and psychological well-being. One well-established program for girls teaches healthy habits and builds confidence. A parent-partner is encouraged to participate as a running-buddy. Earlier research on the program showing improvement in physical activity rates and self-esteem included predominantly middle-class, white, non-Hispanic subjects and did not address the impact on the parent-partner. Objective: Assess whether this youth sports program increases physical activity and improves self-esteem in minority, low-income youth and their parent-partners. Methods: Girls and their parent-partners (mothers) were recruited from those enrolled in the local running and empowerment program. Demographic and school characteristics were obtained. Using validated questionnaires (PAQ-C, IPAQ and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Assessment), total physical activity levels and self-esteem scores were obtained at baseline and on the last day of the program. Questionnaires will be repeated 3 months after completing the program. Results: Of the 15 girls who enrolled in the program, 12 consented to participate in the study along with their mothers, but only 7 of these participated in the program after enrollment (N=14, 7 mother-daughter dyads). Mean change in PAQ-C scores were 0.66 for the girls (95% CI: 0.05 – 1.26) with a p-value of 0.038. This change is statistically significant. The mean change in IPAQ scores were 9759 MET-min/week of physical activity for the mothers (95% CI: -640 – 20,159) with a p-value of 0.06 which is not significant. Mean change in Rosenberg self-esteem scores at baseline were 2.5 for the girls (95% CI: -1.9 – 6.90) and 2.43 for the mothers (95% CI: -1.07 – 5.92), which was not statistically significant. Conclusion: The mean change in the girls’ PAQ-C scores over the course of the program showed a statistically significant increase in PA. These results do suggest that in a low-income primarily Hispanic community a positive youth sports program can increase PA in participants and potentially in their mothers. This study provides valuable insight into the impact of these programs in a minority population that has not been previously studied. Table 2: Change in PA and Self Esteem Scores Measures Baseline End-of-Program Change (95% CI) p-value PAQ-C for Girls 2.26 2.92 0.66 0.038 (0.05,1.26) I-PAQ for Mothers 1823 11582 9759 0.06 (-640,20159) Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale for Girls 19.64 22.14 2.5 0.21 (-1.90,6.90) Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale for Mothers 21.71 24.14 2.43 0.14 (-1.07,5.92) Discussion The mean change in PAQ-C scores over the course of the 10-week program showed a statistically significant increase in total PA based on recall from the previous seven days. There was an increase in the mean IPAQ scores for mothers and the mean Rosenberg self-esteem scores for both girls and mothers, but these did not reach statistical significance. Limitations: - Small sample size leading to less power to detect differences. - Difficulty completing the questionnaires, possibly due to lower literacy levels in the girls than the population in which the instruments were validated. - There was variable participation from the mothers and none of the girls and their parent partners achieved 100% attendance, which may have limited the impact of the program. Study Description Study design: Longitudinal cohort study. Participants: Girls and their parent-partners (in this case mothers) were recruited from those already enrolled in a running/positive youth development program in Pasadena, Texas. Methods: Baylor College of Medicine IRB approval was obtained prior to starting the study. Demographic and school characteristics were obtained from the participants at base-line. Data on total PA and self-esteem were collected using validated questionnaires administered at baseline and at the end of the 10-week program. Questionnaires will be repeated 3 months following program completion. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Children (PAQ-C)3 provides a PA composite score ranging from 1-5 for children, and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ)4 measures metabolic equivalent of task (MET) minutes/week of PA for adults. MET-minutes/week are calculated based on reported duration and intensity of PA as a measure of energy expenditure. The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Assessment provides a self-esteem score from 1-30 for both mothers and daughters.5 A two-tailed, paired t-test was used to compare the baseline and end-of-program mean scores for the PAQ-C, IPAQ, and Rosenberg. Conclusion This study provides valuable insight into the impact of youth sports and empowerment programs in a minority population that has not been previously studied. These results do suggest that, in a low-income, primarily Hispanic community, a positive youth sports program can increase PA in participants and potentially in their mothers. Future directions include expanding the study’s sample size to better detect differences and using different instruments to more reliably measure changes, especially in younger age groups and those with lower literacy levels. References DeBate RD, Thompson SH. Girls On The Run: Improvements In Self-esteem, Body Size Satisfaction And Eating Attitudes/Behaviors. Eating And Weight Disorders: EWD. 2005;10(1):25. Pettee Gabriel KK, DiGioacchino DeBate R, High RR, Racine EF. Girls On The Run: A Quasi-experimental Evaluation Of A Developmentally Focused Youth Sport Program. Journal Of Physical Activity & Health. 2011;8 Suppl 2:S285. Kowalski KC, Crocker PR, Donen RM. The Physical Activity Questionnaire for Older Children (PAQ-C) and Adolescents (PAQ-A) Manual. College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Canada. 2004. Craig CL, Marshall AL, Sjöström M, Bauman AE, Booth ML, Ainsworth BE, et al. International Physical Activity Questionnaire: 12-country Reliability And Validity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2003;35(8):1381-95. Martín-Albo J, Núñiez JL, Navarro JG, Grijalvo F. The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale: Translation And Validation In University Students. The Spanish Journal Of Psychology. 2007;10(2):458-67. Texas Pediatric Society Electronic Poster Contest