The one-session evidence-based SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness (PPW) program was provided to groups of adolescents (N=110, 49% female, 11-14 years old) in Thurston County, Washington during December of 2021.
Pretest and posttest data were collected immediately before and after (N=85) the SPORT PPW program was implemented using anonymous online surveys.
Highlights of the survey results are presented below.
Health Behavior Intentions
- Intentions to get physical activity most days a week increased from 39% at pretest to 54% at posttest (15% increase in very likely responses).
- Intentions to get 8 or more hours of sleep most nights increased from 26% at pretest to 35% at posttest (9% increase in likely responses).
- Intentions to eat mostly healthy foods most days a week increased from 15% at pretest to 28% at posttest (13% increase in very likely responses).
- Intentions to eat a healthy breakfast most days a week increased from 14% at pretest to 19% at posttest (5% increase in very likely responses).
- Intentions to set goals to improve your health or fitness increased from 26% at pretest to 33% at posttest (7% increase in very likely responses).
- Intentions to NOT try any opioids for nonmedical reasons increased from 73% at pretest to 81% at posttest (8% increase in very unlikely responses).
Perceived Harmfulness of Substance Use
- Perceived harmfulness of drinking alcohol increased from 30% at pretest to 38% at posttest (8% increase in a lot plus a great deal responses).
- Perceived harmfulness to smoke cigarettes increased from 44% at pretest to 54% at posttest (10% increase in a great deal responses).
- Perceived harmfulness to use marijuana increased from 35% at pretest to 49% at posttest (14% increase in a great deal responses).
- Perceived harmfulness to use e-cigarettes increased from 33% at pretest to 47% at posttest (14% increase in a great deal responses).
- Perceived harmfulness to use opioids increased from 35% at pretest to 47% at posttest (12% increase in a great deal responses).
What Participants Liked Best About the Program: Actual Youth Quotes
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· I liked how it teaches us kids to be healthy. |
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· Made me realize how important sleep is. |
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· I liked that we talked about the importance of not doing drugs. |
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· I liked the fact that we got to come up with physical activity's that we could do instead of all of the bad things to keep us healthy, reduce stress, and just make us feel good. |
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· It made me feel more honest inside. |
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· It motivated me to keep healthy habits going like sports and sleep but also to try some new healthy activities or sports. |
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· This lesson encouraged me to find an activity to do everyday for 30 minutes. |
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· It made me think about how i never want to do drugs. |
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· It affected my goal setting because now I want to make more goals to help me in my life/health. |
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Conclusion |
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The one-lesson SPORT Prevention Plus Wellness program increased adolescents’ intentions to engage in multiple health-promoting behaviors, including getting regular physical activity, sleep, eating healthy foods and breakfast and setting goals to improve health and fitness. In addition, participating youth reported increased perceptions of the harmfulness of using alcohol, combustible and e-cigarettes, marijuana, and opioids. Youth comments supported the effects of the SPORT PPW program on both promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors and avoiding substance use. |
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